Multilevel assignment of jobs and tasks in online work management system

ABSTRACT

An online work management system provides a marketplace for multiple job owner and workers. The job owners provide a job description that defines task. The job description may be processed to generate task descriptions that may be published for workers&#39; application. The task descriptions specify the qualification or restrictions for workers to have the task assigned. The online work management system also provides various functions supporting coordination and management of task assignment such as determining the trust level of the user&#39;s identity, search the tasks or workers, monitoring the progress of job, managing payment to workers, training and testing the workers, evaluating the review by the job owners, and generation of surveys.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/027,576 entitled “On-Line Systemfor Job/Task Scheduling, Distribution, and Fulfillment” filed on Feb.11, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/056,389 entitled“Method and System for Reputation Measurement and Management in anOnline Micro-work Management System” filed on May 27, 2008; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/056,387 entitled “Method andSystem for User Interface in an Online Micro-Task Environment ManagementSystem” filed on May 27, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/056,390 entitled “Method and System for Worker Preparation in anOnline Micro-Work Management System” filed on May 27, 2008; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/056,392 entitled “Method andSystem for Assigning Location Specific Tasks in an Online Micro-WorkManagement System” filed on May 27, 2008; U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/074,761 entitled “Method and System for Job Creationin an Online Micro-Work Management System” filed on Jun. 23, 2008; U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/074,778 entitled “Enhanced Methodand System for Managing Financial and Risk Aspects in an OnlineMicro-Work Management System” filed on Jun. 23, 2008; U.S. ProvisionalPatent. Application No. 61/075,504 entitled “Enhanced Method and Systemfor Job Execution in an Online Micro-Work Management System” filed onJun. 25, 2008; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/075,502entitled “Enhanced Method and System for Security in an OnlineMicro-Work Management System” filed on Jun. 25, 2008; U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/080,622 entitled “Enhanced Method and Systemfor Integrating Software Functionality into an Online Micro-WorkManagement System” filed on Jul. 14, 2008; U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/080,625 entitled “Enhanced Method and System forIntegrating Software Functionality into an Online Micro-work ManagementSystem” filed on Jul. 14, 2008; and U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/080,638 entitled “Enhanced Method and System for Evaluation andFeedback in an Online Micro-Work Management System” filed on Jul. 14,2008, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to establishing a market place forworkers and job owners, and more specifically to coordinating jobs ortasks among a plurality of job owners and workers online.

2. Description of the Related Art

The last quarter of the twentieth century and the twenty-first centuryhave seen increasing numbers of workers seeking employment, andemployers offering employment in temporary jobs. Temporary work agenciesfor a long time have provided the services of matching up temporary ortransient workers with job owners. At best, such existing agencies wereonly able to provide workers for the most general of positions, whichresults in high turnover and a significant inconsistency between thequalifications of the workers and the needs of the position.Furthermore, temporary job agencies are finding it increasinglydifficult to meet demands for workers looking for flexible workingconditions. Higher flexibility and smaller tasks make the coordinationof jobs between a job owner and a worker even more difficult. The higherflexibility means that the work agencies must spend more time and effortto find workers and job owners that need each other. Further, as thesize of the tasks becomes smaller, the complexity f managing such tasksincreases. The increased complexity and cost makes it difficult tocreate a marketplace for small tasks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments disclose a method and a system for managing a job in anonline work management system that allows a job to be divided into morethan one level of tasks and subtasks. A job as defined by a jobdescription and is divided into one or more tasks. A task is a separableunit of work that can be assigned to different users. At least one taskas defined by a task description is divided into two or more subtasks.Based on the job description, one or more task descriptions eachdefining a task are generated. The task description may specify therestrictions and qualifications of a worker eligible to work on thetask. The task is assigned to a user based on the task description. Thework management system supports assigning at least part (i.e., subtask)of the assignment to another user.

In one embodiment, the subtask description defining the subtask isgenerated based on a task description defining the task. The subtaskdescription specifies the restrictions and qualifications of a workereligible to work on the subtask. Based on the subtask description, thesubtask may be assigned to a user.

In one embodiment, the user assigned the task may be a generalcontractor who performs part of task and assigns the rest of the task assubtasks to other users. The general contractor may review, assess andmodify the results of the subtasks, and combine the results of thesubtasks for submission to the job owner.

In one embodiment, the identity of job owner and/or users applying fortasks or subtask is made anonymous in the work management system toconceal their identity. The job owner and/or other users may prefer tohide their true identity for various reasons. This has the advantage ofallowing jobs, tasks or subtasks originating from the job owner to beoffered to other users who are members of the same organization as thejob owner without revealing the identity of the job owner or the otherusers to facilitate efficient distribution of tasks and subtasks.

The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive andmany additional features and advantages will be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art in view of the figures and description.Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specificationhas been principally selected for readability and instructionalpurposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating components of a work management systemcommunicating over a network, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a work management server,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating dividing of a job into aplurality of tasks and subtasks, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating a process of dividing a job into aplurality of tasks, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating a process of approving a worker fora task, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a graphic representation of a user interface for receiving ajob registration from a job owner, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a graphic representation of a user interface for receivingthe descriptions of tasks associated with a job, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 5C is a graphic representation of a user interface for receivingthe descriptions of worker requirements for a task, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 5D is a graphic representation of a user interface for receivingadditional descriptions for worker requirements for a task, according toone embodiment.

FIG. 5E is a graphic representation of a user interface for defining atask, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5F is a graphic representation of a user interface for receivinginformation with respect to compensation for a task, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating data structures for storing job ortask descriptions, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating decomposition of a video over a timeline, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a trust management moduleinteracting with a local repository, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching tasks for aworker, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a graphic representation of a user interface displayed to aworker for searching tasks, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a work management systeminteracting with partner services, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a process of linking an identity ofa user in partner services with the identity in a work managementserver, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12A is a block diagram illustrating a reputation score manager in awork management system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating a reputationscore, according to one embodiment.

FIGS. 12C and 12D are graphs illustrating converting the value of atransferred reputation score, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13A is a block diagram illustrating components of a location-basedwork management system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13B is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching workersbased on location, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 13C is a flowchart illustrating a process of searching tasks basedon locations, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14A is a block diagram illustrating an intermediator supportmodule, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14B is a flowchart for illustrating a process of creating a marketfor a category of tasks, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14C is a flowchart for illustrating a process of dividing tasksinto subtasks by an intermediator, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14D is a flowchart for illustrating a process of creating atraining program by an intermediator, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 15A is a block diagram illustrating components associated withmodifying tasks, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 15B is a flowchart illustrating a process of creating jobs or tasksusing a template, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 16A is a block diagram illustrating components for assessing risksassociated with a job or task, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 16B is a flowchart illustrating a process of assessing risksassociated with a job or task and issuing an insurance policy to a jobowner, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 17A is a flowchart illustrating a process of monitoring andmanaging tasks, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 17B is a graphic representation of a user interface displayed forsetting an approval process for submitted task results and settingredundancy, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 17C is a graphic representation of a user interface displayed forsetting up a process to monitor the progress of a job or task, accordingto one embodiment.

FIG. 17D is a user interface displayed for allowing a job owner toconfirm the status of tasks, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 18A is a block diagram illustrating operation of an anonymizermodule in a work management system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 18B is a diagram illustrating relationships between a users tableand related data structures, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 18C is a diagram illustrating relationships between a contactstable and related data structures, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 18D is a diagram illustrating relationships between an entitytable, a DBA (Doing Business As) table and related data structures,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 18E is a block diagram illustrating operation of security settingsin a work management system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a process of detecting collusion ina work management system, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a securitysensitive task using a work management system, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a process of automaticallygenerating a survey using a work management system, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a process of evaluating andcontesting the result of a task, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 23A is a graphic representation of a user interface for training aworker or for performing a task by a worker, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 23B is a graphic representation of a user interface for indicatingmajor scene changes, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 23C is a graphic representation of a user interface displayingbadges of accomplishments awarded to a worker, according to oneembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments relate to providing various functions associated with thecreation of a marketplace for job owners and workers, and managing theassignment of jobs and tasks to one or more workers. In the followingdescription, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details areset forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that theinvention can be practiced without these specific details. In otherinstances, structures and devices are shown in block diagram form inorder to avoid obscuring the invention.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment” or“the embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of thephrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

Some portions of the detailed descriptions that follow are presented interms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on databits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are the means used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their workto others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, and generally,conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desiredresult. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physicalquantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take theform of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,transferred, combined, compared or otherwise manipulated. It has provenconvenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to referto these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms,numbers or the like.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the following discussion,it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizingterms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or“determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, a personal digital assistant (PDA), acellular telephone or similar electronic computing device, thatmanipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic)quantities within the computer system's registers and memories intoother data similarly represented as physical quantities within thecomputer system memories or registers or other such information storage,transmission or display devices.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for performing theoperations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for therequired purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computerselectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored inthe computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computerreadable storage medium, such as, but is not limited to, any type ofdisk including floppy disks, optical disks, CD-ROMs, andmagnetic-optical disks, read-only memories (ROMs), random accessmemories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, flashmemory or drives, or any type of media suitable for storing electronicinstructions, each coupled to a computer system bus.

Finally, the algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherentlyrelated to any particular computer or other apparatus. Variousgeneral-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with theteachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct morespecialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The requiredstructure for a variety of these systems will appear from thedescription below. In addition, the present invention is not describedwith reference to any particular programming language. It will beappreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used toimplement the teachings of the invention as described herein.

Architecture of Work Management System

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the components of a workmanagement system 110 communicating over a network 100, according to oneembodiment. The work management system 110 includes, among othercomponents, a work management server 160 and user terminals 130, 140. Auser accesses the work management server 160 via a network 100. Acommunication link 162 links the work management server 160 to thenetwork 100. In one embodiment, the work management server 160 storesthe data associated with work management in its local data repository240. Alternatively, at least part of the data associated with the workmanagement is stored in a distributed manner in remote servers 142Athrough 142N (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the remoteservers 142”).

Each set of remote servers 142 may be located in distinct geographiclocations or jurisdictions remote from the work management server 160.Due to various legal constraints or practical reasons associated with,for example, preferences of job owners, security, and governmentregulations, certain restricted data must be retained within certaingeographies. By locating the remote servers 142 in such geographiclocations or jurisdictions and storing the restricted data in certainremote servers 142, such legal constraints or practical needs forstoring the data in a particular geographic location or jurisdiction areaddressed. In one embodiment, the remote servers 142 include, amongother servers, redirection servers 144A through 144N (hereinaftercollectively referred to as “the redirection servers 144”), remote datarepositories 148A through 148N (hereinafter collectively referred to as“the remote data repository 148”), and mirroring repositories 152Athrough 152N (hereinafter collectively referred to as “the mirroringrepositories 152”). Each server 142 may be embodied as a computingdevice including, among other components, a processor, memory, inputmodules and output modules. These components may be coupled via a bus.Further, each server 142 may include only a subset of the redirectionserver 144, the remote data repository 148 or the mirroring repository152.

The redirection servers 144 receive requests from users for data neededfor work management operations. In response, the redirection servers 144redirect the request to the remote data repositories 148 or themirroring repositories 152. The mirroring repositories 152 cache thedata in the remote data repositories 148 and serves data in place of theremote data repositories 148 if the load at the remote data repositories148 is excessive. The mirroring operation may be performed transparentlyin a manner that is well known to a person skilled in the art.

Access to the data in the remote servers 142 may be restricted to usersin certain geographic locations. For example, users in unsecuregeographies (using the user terminal 130) access the remote servers 142of certain geographic regions only when the users communicate via asecure channel implemented using techniques such as a Virtual PrivateNetwork (VPN). The users in the unsecure geographies may communicatewith the work management server 160 via a VPN gateway 136. Theredirection servers 144 or the work management server 160 may verify thegeographic region where the user is located by analyzing the user's IP(Internet Protocol) address.

Users may access the work management server 160 or the remote servers142 from user terminals (e.g., the user terminal 130 or 140) via anetwork 100 (e.g., the Internet). The users of the work managementserver 160 include, among others, workers, job owners andintermediators. In one embodiment, the users are presented with atypical interactive Web user interface for operations associated withthe work management system 110. In one embodiment, a user logs into thework management server 160 and chooses a job. In response, the userterminal 130 or 140 receives location information about the datalocation associated with the job from the work management server 160.The work management server 160 may include look-up tables that store thelocation of data associated with the job. Based on entries in thelook-up tables, the user accesses the data for remote servers 142.Alternatively, the data associated with the work management system 110may be stored exclusively in the local repository 240 of the workmanagement server 160. For the purpose of explanation, it is assumedhereinafter that the data associated with work management is stored inthe work management server 160.

In one embodiment, the user terminals 130, 140 and the work managementserver 160 form a client-server architecture. The user terminals 130,140 may be, among others, a hand-held device, a laptop or desktopcomputer, a Web appliance, or any other of various well known computingdevices. Client software instance (not shown) is executed on the userterminals 130, 140. In one embodiment, the client software instance maybe a plug-in to a web browser that is downloaded in runtime or be storedin the user terminals 130, 140. In another embodiment, the clientsoftware instance performs operations offline and sends the results tothe work management server 160 when user terminals 130, 140 areconnected to the network 100. Various components of the work managementserver 160 may be implemented as a Web server application such as IBMWebSphere and Apache Web server. The work management server 160 may alsorun a middle layer application such as a personal home page (PHP) engine(e.g., an HTML preprocessor) that allows users to perform functions andinterface with back-end applications such as SQL database applicationalso running on the work management server 160. Various components suchas the Web server, the PHP, and the SQL server may be separated intodifferent physical servers or run on the same server either as separateapplications or in virtual instantiations.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 receives and storeslocation or regional requirement during registration of the tasks. Thelocation or regional requirement of the task may require, for example,that the task be eligible only for worker in the U.S. or certified forcertain tasks in a region (e.g., rendering of legal opinion in ajurisdiction).

In one embodiment, the work management system 110 further includesemails and voice communication system (not shown) to facilitate variousoperations including, among others, job scheduling, notification, andreporting of the results of the tasks.

Architecture of Work Management Server

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the work management server 160,according to one embodiment. The work management server 160 includes,among other components, a processor 210, a communication module 220 andmemory 230. These components are coupled via a bus 212. The processor210 reads instructions from the memory 230 and performs variousoperations associated with work management. The processor 210 comprisesvarious computing architectures including a complex instruction setcomputer (CISC) architecture, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC)architecture, or an architecture implementing a combination ofinstruction sets. Although only one processor 210 is illustrated in FIG.2, a plurality of processors may be used. The communication module 220communicates with other components of the work management system 110 viathe communication link 162 using various protocols including, forexample, TCP/IP (Internet Protocol Suite), HTTP (Hypertext TransferProtocol), HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) and SMTP (SimpleMail Transfer Protocol). The communication module 220 links theprocessor 210 to the network 100 that may include multiple processingsystems and in one embodiment is a network controller. The network ofprocessing systems may comprise a local area network (LAN), a wide areanetwork (WAN) (e.g., the Internet), and/or any other interconnected datapath across which multiple devices may communicate. The communicationmodule 220 provides other conventional connections to other systems suchas a network for distribution of files (media objects) using standardnetwork protocols such as TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS, and SMTP.

The memory 230 stores instructions and/or data that may be executed bythe processor 210. The instructions and/or data may comprise one or morecode modules for performing any and/or all of the techniques describedherein. The memory 230 may be a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)device, a static random access memory (SRAM) device, or some othermemory device known in the art. The memory 230 stores, among othercomponents, a job owner module 250, a job/task specification module 254,a workflow engine 258, a payment system 266, a worker module 270, atrust management module 274, a dispute resolution system 278, a trainingand testing module 280, a system interface module 282, an intermediatorsupport module 286, a survey generator 288, a reputation score manager290, a risk assessment engine 292 and a local repository 240. One ormore of these modules may be combined into a single code module or bedivided into a plurality of distinct code modules.

The job owner module 250 interacts with job owners to perform variousoperations associated with managing jobs or tasks assigned to workersusing the work management system 110. The job owner module 250, inconjunction with the processor 210, may perform, among others, thefollowing functions: authenticating job owners, retrieving dataassociated with the job owners, processing the data into a formatconvenient for the job owners' access, receiving instructions from thejob owners (e.g., approving workers and approving payment), and storingprocessed data in the local repository 240. The job owner module 250may, in conjunction with the workflow engine 258, allow the job owner totrack the status of jobs or tasks assigned to workers using the workmanagement system 110. The job owner module 250 also communicates withother modules of the work management server 160 to present informationto job owners and/or receive inputs from the job owners.

A job/task specification module 254 communicates with the job owner viathe job owner module 250 to facilitate configuration of jobdescriptions. Specifically, the job/task specification module 254receives user inputs associated with jobs and outputs the jobdescriptions. The job/task specification module 254 may store aplurality of templates that may be chosen and modified by the jobowners. For certain types of jobs, job templates allow inexperienced jobowners to define the tasks by filling necessary fields. Alternatively,the job-task specification module 254 includes a wizard program thatpresents the job owners with a series of questions and generates jobdescription according to the job owners' answers. In one embodiment, thejob/task specification module 254 is installed on the user terminals130, 140 instead of the work management server 160 to generate the jobdescriptions at the user terminals 130, 140. After the job descriptionsare generated by the job/task specification module 254, the jobdescriptions are processed by the workflow engine 258 to divide a jobinto a plurality of tasks, as described below in detail with referenceto FIG. 3. The job/task specification module 254 operates in conjunctionwith the processor 210 to generate the job description that is fed tothe workflow engine 258 or stored in the local repository 240.

The job/task specification module 254 may store or retrieve and processjob templates associated with a job. A job template may include (i) adeclarative section, (ii) a procedure section, and (iii) a returnstatement. The declarative section defines elements and global or taskvariables associated with the job. Typically, the global variables areapplicable to all tasks that make up the job whereas task variables areassociated with only certain tasks. Such variables include, for example,the length of time for a task, base pay, and certification/credentialsneeded to take on the task. Some variables may be assigned a constantvalue. System variables may include how much time is left to completeall the work. A procedure section describes how a job is broken intotasks. A procedural language (e.g., JavaScript) may be used to describe,among others, sequences, conditional flow, goto or structured flow ofcontrol, and subroutines to describe the relationships between tasks andjobs. A return statement specifies the final result of the task.

In one embodiment, royalties may be offered for sharing job templateswith others. The royalties may serve as an incentive to create templatesof high quality usable by others. The job templates may be compiled orembedded into a protective software application to protect the jobtemplates against unauthorized copy or use. In another embodiment, thejob templates are provided without fees as an open source template forimprovement by other users. After the open source templates are acceptedand widely used by job owners, the templates may be approved as an“endorsed” template.

In one embodiment, an appropriate job template or wizard for a job ownermay be unavailable. In such case, the job owner may manually generatethe job descriptions. Alternatively, the job owner may search andcustomize job templates for jobs similar to what the job owner iscontemplating. The customized job template may be stored and madeavailable to other job owners. As the customized job templatesaccumulates in the work management server 160, a searching or matchingservice may be employed to allow job owners to search for task templatesmatching the needs of the job owners.

The workflow engine 258 operates in conjunction with the processor 210to perform various operations associated with the management of jobs andtasks. The functions performed by the workflow engine 258 may include,among others, translating of jobs into tasks (as specified by the jobdescriptions), distributing the tasks to qualified workers, monitoringperformance and completion of tasks, updating and managing reputationscores of workers and job owners. The job description generated by thejob/task specification module 254 is received at the workflow engine258.

The workflow engine 258 receives a job description from the job/taskspecification module 254 and then generates one or more taskdescriptions based on the job description. In one embodiment, theworkflow engine 258 reads the job template associated with the jobdescription, and generates one or more task descriptions according tothe procedure as described in the procedure section of the job template.In another embodiment, the job description includes information (e.g.,tags) needed for generating one or more task descriptions. The workflowengine 258 parses through the job description and generates the taskdescriptions according to the information included in the jobdescription, The workflow engine 258 publishes the job descriptions. Theworkflow engine 258 in conjunction with the worker module 270 allowsusers to filter and view published job descriptions. After tasks areassigned, the workflow engine 258 generates assignment information thatcan be viewed by workers or job owners via the worker module 270 or thejob owner module 250. The workflow engine 258 also receives inputsassociated with the job from the user (e.g., worker and job owner) viathe job owner module 250 and the worker module 270. The specificfunctions of the workflow engine 258 are described below in detail withreference to FIG. 4A.

The workflow engine 258 may also perform various support operationsassociated with tracking and/or management of jobs or tasks. Theworkflow engine 258 accesses data associated with jobs or tasks andpresents status update to the job owners via the job owner module 250.Various well-known methods of tracking jobs or tasks may be employed bythe workflow engine 258 for this purpose.

The payment system 266 facilitates monetary transactions between the jobowners and the workers. The payment system 266 receives commands to makepayments from the workflow engine 258. In one embodiment, the paymentsystem 266 includes various tools for auditing and/or accounting. In oneembodiment, the payment system 226 may arrange to receive a deposit inan escrow to be paid out to workers upon the completion of the task. Inthis way, the workers may reduce the risk of not receiving compensationfor the task. The payment system 266 may be coupled with servers orcomputing devices of financial institutions to accomplish transmittal ofpayments.

The worker module 270 interacts with workers to perform variousoperations associated with jobs or tasks. The worker module 270performs, among other functions, the following functions: authenticatingworkers, retrieving data associated with the workers, processing thedata into a format convenient for the workers to access, receivinginstructions from the workers (e.g., apply for a task and submit resultsof a task to the job owner), and storing processed data in the localrepository 240. Further, the worker module 270 operates in conjunctionwith various other code modules to perform various functions thatrequire presentation of data to workers and/or receiving of inputs fromthe workers.

The trust management module 274 is responsible for verifying thetrustworthiness of the job owners and the workers. The trust managementmodule 274 may access various sources of information including,government database, past history of tasks performed, and third-partygenerated information (e.g., credit report) to assign different trustquotients to the job owners and the workers. The trust management module274 generates trust quotients that are stored in the local repository ormade available to users (e.g., workers and job owners) of the workmanagement system 110 via the job owner module 250 or the worker module270. The trust quotient may be provided to the workflow engine 258 todetermine eligibility of a user for a job or task. The trust managementmodule 274 is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 7.

The dispute resolution system 278 is responsible for facilitating theresolution of disputes between users of the work management system 110.There may be a variety of disputes between the users. Workers may, forexample, complain about the following: (i) non-payment, (ii) job owner'srefusal to approve the result of tasks, (iii) poor definition of tasks,(iv) requiring significantly more time than estimated in taskdescriptions, and (v) non-timely approval of the results of the task.Job owners may, for example, complain about the following: (i) whetherthe work was properly executed, (ii) non-execution of the task assignedto the worker, (iii) non-timely execution of the task assigned to theworker, (iv) worker's request for unusual amount of clarification on thetask, and (iv) unsatisfactory qualify of the results of the task. Jobowners and workers may submit a complaint after a task is completed orduring a task. Before filing a dispute, job owners or workers may benotified that a pattern of disputes will affect their reputation scores.In one embodiment, the dispute resolution system 278 may present each ofthese types of complaints in a drop-down menu along with a comments boxfor further details. Workers or job owners may be given the option ofcancelling the task after filing a complaint. The dispute resolutionsystem 278 may alert a dispute resolution entity (e.g., an arbitrator)when a job owner or a worker initiates the dispute resolution process.The dispute resolution entity may contact both parties, conductindependent investigation, and notify both parties of the result of theinvestigation, and recommend settlement between the parties. The resultof the dispute resolution may be tracked by the dispute resolutionsystem 278 and be fed to a reputation score manager (described belowwith reference to FIG. 12A) to update the reputation score of the jobowner or the worker. Alternatively, the dispute resolution system 278may store the result of the dispute resolution in the local repository240.

The training and testing module 280 facilitates workers to learn newskills and prove their qualifications to qualify for certain tasks. Inone embodiment, the training and testing module 280 allows a proctor toobserve a worker taking a test through a low bandwidth (possibly delayedvideo conference) to ensure that the worker is not cheating or receivingassistance while taking the exam. The training and testing module 280may communicate with the intermediator support module 286 to createtraining or testing programs. After the training or testing programs arecreated, the worker module 270 may operate in conjunction with thetraining and testing module 280 to train or test workers. The trainingand testing module 280 may be coupled to the job owner module 250 or theintermediator support module 286 to receive user inputs for creatingtraining or testing programs. The training and testing module 280 isalso coupled to the local repository 240 to store created programs.Further, the training and testing module 280 is coupled to the workermodule 270 to present training and testing materials to workers.

In one embodiment, the number of workers prepared to take on certaintasks may be increased by training the workers before the tasks becomeavailable in a large number. The training and testing module 280 mayalso present puzzles for various reasons including, among others, thefollowing: (i) to evaluate and reward workers (as a filtering tool toweed out incapable workers), (ii) to help the workers improve theskill-sets of workers and (iii) to be given an opportunity to interviewfor a desirable job if there are excessive numbers of applicant workersfor the task. The training and testing module 280 may also provide adistant leaning function. The training and testing module 280 may beused by the job owners or intermediators to teach specialized knowledgeneeded to perform certain specialized tasks.

The system interface module 282 allows job owners or workers to creatediscrete, portable web programs that enable subsets of functionalityprovided by the work management server 160 to be exported and used onother systems. In one embodiment, workers may export a subset of theirprofile information to other websites such as Craig's List and MySpaceso that the workers may build their “Personal Brand” leveraging thereputation system implemented by the work management system 110. Thesystem interface module 282 may also couple the work management system110 with other work management system used by different users.

The intermediator support 286 is responsible for supportingintermediators, as described below in detail with reference to FIG. 14A.The intermediators receives tasks from job owners, subdivides the tasksinto subtasks, assigns the tasks to workers (using either the workmanagement system 110 or other methods), collects the results from theworkers and submits the results of the tasks to the job owners. Theintermediator support 286 may be coupled to the workflow engine 258 tosend task descriptions to the workflow engine 258. The workflow engine258 may generate subtask descriptions based on the task description,assign subtasks to the workers, and send assignment information(indicating assignment of tasks to workers) to the intermediator support286. The intermediator support 286 may also be coupled to training andtesting module 280 to create and manage programs for teaching or testingworkers.

The survey generator 288 is responsible for generating survey questions.The survey generator 288 is coupled to the job owner module 250 or theworker module 270 to allows job owners or workers to generate surveyquestions to ask answers to each other or to obtain answers to questionsas part of the task. The survey generator 288 facilitates the process ofgenerating surveys and collecting answers for the surveys. The surveygenerator 288 is also coupled to the local repository 240 to store thegenerated survey questions.

The job owner module 250, the worker module 270 or the intermediatorsupport module 286 may receive the assignment information (indicatingassignment of tasks to workers) from the workflow engine 258 and forwardthe assignment information to one or more user terminals 130, 140 fordisplay. The assignment information may be generated by the workflowengine 258 to indicate how the job, task or subtasks are assigned.

The reputation score manager 290 retrieves various types of informationfrom the local repository 240 and other sources to generate and updatereputation scores, as described below in detail with reference to FIG.12A. The reputation score as generated or updated by the reputationscore manager 290 may be stored in the local repository 240.

The risk assessment engine 292 is coupled to the local repository 240and various other sources to receive various types of informationassociated with risk. The risk assessment engine 292 generate risk dataand stores it in the local repository 240, as described below in detailwith reference to FIG. 16A.

The local repository 240 stores various types information associatedwith the work management server 160. The local repository 240 is coupledto other modules (e.g., the job owner module 250, the worker module 270,the workflow engine 258, the survey generator 288, the trust managementmodule 274, the dispute resolution system 278, the training and testingmodule 280, the intermediator support 286, the reputation score manager290 and the risk assessment engine 292) to provide data for processingat these modules and store data generated by these modules. Theinformation stored in the local repository 240 includes, among others,user profiles, job templates, trust quotients, training or testingprograms, job descriptions, task descriptions, payment information, userauthentication data, survey questions, reputation scores, and risk data.

Various modifications may be made to the embodiment of FIG. 2. Forexample, one or more modules of FIG. 2 may be ported or transferred tothe user terminals 130, 140. Further, instead of implementing themodules of the work management server 160 on a single server, themodules may be distributed across two or more servers.

Division of Jobs into Tasks

A job (or project) may be too expensive or impracticable foraccomplishment by a single worker. Breaking up such job into a pluralityof smaller tasks may be required to make the job more flexible andcost-effective. Taking the example of painting a wall, the process ofpainting the wall can be divided into smaller tasks such as removing theold paint, sanding the wall, painting primer on the wall, and thencovering the primer with a layer of acrylic paint. Each of these tasksmay be performed by different workers. By breaking up the job intosmaller tasks, more workers may also become qualified for the tasks. Forexample, the workers that remove the old paint need not be skilled inpainting the primer or the acrylic paint. Therefore, more workers willbe qualified for the task of removing the old paint compared to workerswho are qualified to perform all the processes associated with thepainting. In one embodiment, the workflow engine 258 divides a job intotasks and distributes the tasks to a plurality of workers.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating dividing of a job intotasks, according to one embodiment. A job owner 310 prepares a jobdescription 314 using, for example, the job/task specification module254 of FIG. 2. The job description 314 defines the job and smaller tasksthat constitute the job. The work management server 160 (specifically,the workflow engine 258) divides the job into multiple tasks, eachdefined by a task description 320A through 320N. Tasks as defined by thetask descriptions 320A through 320N are then distributed to a pluralityof workers 326A through 326N.

Some tasks (for example, task associated with task description 330) areprovided to an intermediator 334. The tasks given to the intermediator334 may be a task that is too big for a single worker or a task thatrequires the supervision or expertise of the intermediator 334 tosuccessfully accomplish the task. The intermediator 334 may prepare atask description 338 (similar to job description 314) defining thesubtasks that constitute the task 330. The task description 338 may alsobe provided to the work management server 160 to subdivide the task 330into smaller subtasks, each subtask defined by a subtask description342A through 342N. Subtasks as defined by the subtask descriptions 342Athrough 342N are then distributed to workers 352A through 352N. Theintermediator's task of coordinating the subtasks is supported by theintermediator support module 286, described below in detail withreference to FIG. 14A.

The process of collecting the results of the job is performed in asequence reverse to the assigning of tasks or subtask. That is, thesubtasks are submitted by the workers 352A through 352N, collected bythe intermediator 334 and approved by the intermediator 334. Theintermediator 334 then submits the results of the task associated withthe task description 330 to the job owner 310. The job owner 310collects the results of the tasks associated with the task descriptions320A through 320N from the workers 326A through 326N and the results ofthe task associated with the task description 330 from the intermediator334. The job owner 310 reviews the results of the tasks submitted by theworkers 326A through 326N and the intermediator 334, and concludes thejob. The job owner 310 and the intermediator 334 may assign tasks orsubtask using the same workflow engine or separate workflow engines.

When a job or a task is divided into tasks or subtasks and distributedto multiple workers or intermediators, it may be time consuming to teachor convey necessary information to all the workers or intermediators.Therefore, the training and testing module 280 may be usedadvantageously to teach or convey necessary information to the workersor intermediators. The training and testing module 280 may also be usedto progress the workers to a next level of skill or expertise that islikely to qualify the worker for higher paying tasks.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating the process of dividing a job intotasks, according to one embodiment. First, the job/task specificationmodule 254 in conjunction with the job owner module receives 410information about jobs and tasks from a job owner. Based on the jobdescription, task descriptions are generated 418 by the work managementserver 160. Then it is determined 422 whether there are a sufficientnumber of workers satisfying the requirements for the tasks (as definedby the task descriptions).

If there is no worker or the number of workers satisfying therequirements is below a threshold, the process returns to modify 418 thetask descriptions. The modification of the task description may beprompted, for example, by displaying the number of qualified workers tothe job owner. The job owner then lowers the level of requirements forthe task. Alternatively, an intermediator may be notified of such event.The intermediator may use his expertise to generate a proposal ofmodified task descriptions, as described in detail below with referenceto FIG. 14C.

If there are a sufficient number of workers, the process proceeds topublish 426 the task descriptions. The published task descriptions areviewed by workers. Workers interested in the task then apply for thetask. It is then determined 430 if applications for the task arereceived from qualified workers. If no application is received from aqualified applicant, the process may return to modifying 418 the taskdescriptions, as describe below in detail with reference to FIG. 15A. Ifthere are one or more applications for the task, the process proceeds todetermine 434 if the job owner approves the worker. If the worker is notapproved, the process returns to determine 430 if applications arereceived from other qualified workers. On the other hand, if the workeris approved, the process proceeds to assign 438 the task to theapplicant worker. Assignment information indicating which worker isassigned to which tasks are generated by the workflow engine 258. Theassignment information is then sent 440 to the user terminal 130 or 140for display.

The approved worker performs the assigned task and produces results. Theresults are then received 442 from the worker at the work managementsystem 110. The job owner may review the results, and if all is inorder, the job owner authorizes payment to the worker (the workmanagement system 110 receives 446 authorizations from the job owner tomake the payment). In response, instructions are sent to the paymentsystem 266 to make 450 payments to the worker.

FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating the process of obtaining approvalfor an applicant worker, according to one embodiment. First, thequalification and the trust quotient of an applicant worker aredetermined 460 by the work management server 160. Then it is determined464 whether the applicant worker's qualification and the trust quotientexceed a threshold set by the job owner. If the qualification and thetrust quotient do not satisfy the threshold set by the job owner, theprocess proceeds to determine 476 if the applicant worker agrees toupgrade the qualification or the trust level (represented by trustquotient described below with reference to FIG. 7). To qualify forcertain tasks, the worker may need to provide additional data (e.g.,biometric data or government issued ID card) to raise the trustquotient. If the applicant worker agrees to upgrade the trust quotient,information to upgrade the trust quotient is received 480 or operations(e.g., training or testing) to upgrade the applicant worker'squalification or trust quotient are performed 480. Then the processreturns to determine 464 if the applicant's qualification and trustquotient exceed the threshold and repeats the process. If it isdetermined 476 that the applicant worker does not want to upgrade thequalification or the trust quotient, then the applicant worker 484 isrejected, and the process ends.

If it is determined 464 that the applicant's qualifications and trustquotient exceeds a threshold, then the process proceeds to determine 468if the job owner approves the applicant worker. If the job owner doesnot approve the applicant worker, the process may proceed to determine476 if the applicant worker agrees to upgrade the qualifications or thetrust quotient. If the job owner approves, then it is determined 472 ifa security clearance is required to assign the task to the worker. Thetrust quotient represents the trustworthiness of the worker, and bebased on various factors not all of which are associated with securityclearance. Therefore, in addition to filtering workers based on thetrust quotient, a separate security clearance may be performed on theworker to avoid security issues. In one embodiment, the securityclearance is performed based on the trust quotient, and a separatesecurity clearance is not performed. If the security clearance isrequired, the process may proceed to determine if the applicant agreesto upgrade qualifications or trust quotient to pass the securityclearance, and proceeds to receive information or perform 480 operationsto upgrade application's qualifications or the trust quotient if theworker agrees. If no security clearance is needed, the applicant workeris assigned to the task.

FIG. 5A is a graph representation of a user interface 500 displayed toreceive a job registration from a job owner, according to oneembodiment. The job owner may define a job and related tasks using a jobtemplate. In a menu 502 provided in the user interface 500, a pluralityof job templates are displayed for the job owner's selection. The jobowner may define a job and its related tasks by conveniently choosing ajob template and filling necessary fields or modifying default entries.The templates may be hierarchically organized to facilitate job ownersto identify and select desired templates by various criteria (e.g.,types of job, skill required and similarity of jobs). In one embodiment,the templates is designed by a third party (e.g., intermediator) andmade available to job owners with the payment of fees.

FIG. 5B is a user interface 510 displayed for receiving the descriptionsof tasks associated with a job, according to one embodiment. A job ownermay decide to define a job as including a single task or more than onetask by clicking one of the two radio buttons indicated by an arrow 516.If the job owner indicates that more than one task is associated with ajob, a table 512 is presented to the job owner. The job owner fills inthe table 512 to set the number of tasks and the name of the tasks.After filling the table 512, the job owner may be presented with userinterfaces, for example, illustrated in FIGS. 5C through 5F to specifythe tasks and the worker requirements for the tasks. By filling thetable 512, a job description defining a job with multiple tasks may begenerated.

FIG. 5C is a graphic representation of a user interface 520 displayedfor receiving the descriptions of worker requirements for a task,according to one embodiment. The name of the job and task associatedwith the setting are displayed in an area indicated by an arrow 522. Thejob owner may populate various fields 524 to set the requirements orqualifications of workers for the task. The configurable fields mayinclude, among others, availability of authentication information (e.g.,government issued ID card), degree requirements, professional degrees,and time the task must be performed. Based on the populated fields, thenumber of qualified workers may be displayed in a box 526 to inform thejob owner whether the qualifications or requirements are toorestrictive. In one embodiment, a wage profile (e.g., median, average,highest and lowest) of the workers satisfying the requirements orqualifications are presented to the job owner.

FIG. 5D is a graphic representation of a user interface 530 forreceiving additional descriptions for worker requirements for a task,according to one embodiment. Using the user interface 530, the job ownercan set advanced requirements or qualifications for workers. By clickinga drop-down menu 532, the job owner may select detailed requirementssuch as authentication, demographics, education, professionaldesignations, employment information, interests, language skills andlocations. After a selection is made from the drop-down menu 532, ascroll box 542 may appear with a series of prerequisite options orquestions. The job owner selects one of the questions/requirements fromthe scroll box 542 and then specifies the acceptable values that becomethe prerequisites for a worker to perform the task. The field types fordesignating the acceptable values vary based on the type of requirement(e.g., selecting “Age” in the scroll box gives two textboxes by which anage range could be specified, and selecting “Education” in the scrollbox 542 gives a series of education credentials with checkboxes next toeach credential for the job owner to choose).

After adding the requirement and designating the acceptable values, “AddRequirement” button 534 is clicked to add this requirement. The numberof qualified workers may be updated in a box 536 as new requirements areadded. The added requirements are displayed in a list 538. An “Add”button 540 and an “Edit” button 542 enables the requirement to be addedor edited, respectively. After a requirement is added, the drop-downmenu 532 is reset and the scroll box 542 disappears such that the dropdown menu 532 is readied for the job owner to add another requirement.

In one embodiment, qualification templates are stored in the workmanagement server 110 and retrieved for use by the job owner. Thequalification templates may cover frequently used worker requirements.Using the qualification template, the work management server 110 maypresent the job owner with a series of questions. Suitablequalifications or requirements are then automatically generated based onthe answers provided by the job owner. In this way, the job owner mayconveniently set the requirements or qualifications of workers for atask with fewer inputs.

In one embodiment, the number of workers meeting a qualification orrequirement criterion may be displayed in the user interface 530 toindicate how the qualification or requirement reduces the number ofeligible workers.

The job owner may click a link 544 to invoke a template generator. Whenthe link 544 is clicked, a popup window is launched that allows the jobowner to create a new custom question. The template generator may be apart of job/task specification module 254. In one embodiment, thetemplate generator allows only one question to be created at a time tobecome part of the worker qualifications. The template generator mayalso display directions explaining how to use the template generator.Further, the template generator popup enables the job owner to not onlycreate a question and specify the answers but also specify which answersare required. Clicking “Submit” from the template generator windowcloses the popup window and reloads the main page and adds the newquestion to the list of worker requirements. A “Pending approval” markmay appear next to the new question. The new question may then beanalyzed by an administrator of the work management server 160 to (i)confirm that the question is not already included in the database ofworker requirements, (ii) classify the new requirement in a propercategory, (iii) approve the question, and (iv) enter the estimated timerequired for the workers to satisfy the new requirement.

FIG. 5E is a graphic representation of a user interface 550 displayed todefine a task, according to one embodiment. The job owner may define atask and provide directions to workers. The directions for the task maybe entered in fields 552 as texts or uploaded in the form of files.

FIG. 5F is a graphic representation of a user interface 560 displayed toreceive information with respect to compensation from a job owner,according to one embodiment. For each task, the user interface 560displays the summary of information associated with expense including,for example, the number of qualified workers, the targeted number oftasks to be completed, requested compensation range of workers, thetotal estimated compensation, and total time estimate. The job owner maydefine the compensation to be paid out to workers per task in box 564.The job owner may also specify the time that the job or task is to bepublished and made available to workers by filling in entries in fields566.

FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating data structures for storing jobdescriptions and task descriptions, according to one embodiment. Afterthe job owner defines a job and related tasks, a job table and one ormore task tables are generated by the workflow engine 258 and stored inthe local repository 240. A job table 612 may include, among otherfields, Job/Task ID (a unique number identifying a job, task or asubtask), Nick Name (indicating name of the job), type of job, User IDSource (indicating where the identity of the job owner may be obtained),PID (Personal Identity) source contact (indicating where the contactinformation of the job owner may be obtained), user ID provider(indicating where the identity of the job owner was generated), PIDprovider contact (indicating who provided the contact information aboutthe job owner), ProjectDataFolder (indicating where data associated withthe job may be obtained), comments (description about the job), status(indicating whether the job is pending or terminated), Sec Clear(indicating whether security clearance is needed), Geography (indicatingany geographical limitation associated with the job) and Subprojects(indicating one or more tasks associated with the job.

A task table 614 includes similar fields for tasks linked to the jobtable 612. The subprojects fields in the task table 614 indicatessubtasks that constitute the task described in the task table 614. Asubtask table 616 also includes similar fields except that typicallySubprojects field is NULL. That is, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6supports three levels of hierarchy (job, task and subtasks) inorganizing and structuring a job. Organizing and structuring a job intothree levels are merely illustrative, and additional levels of structuremay be implemented by allowing the Subtask tables or its child tables(i.e., sub-subtask tables) to describe a non-Null value in Subprojectsfield.

Examples of job templates provided to job owners may include thefollowing:

Auditing:

Auditing includes tasks in which a job owner pays a worker to audit afunction in the “real world.” The worker receives detailed directionsfrom the job owner, executes the audit, and reports back to the jobowner via the work management server 160. For example, a fast-foodfranchise as a job owner may create an auditing procedure for checkingcleanliness and service levels at a set of its franchise restaurants.The worker receives a list of the franchise locations, an auditprocedure, and a reporting form. The worker is paid by the franchise toaudit the locations and submit the report via the work management server160.

Media Services:

Media Services includes tasks which involve receiving a media file suchas a document, audio file, or video file, performing a function relatedto the file, and providing the results via the work management server160. Often, providing the results includes providing an updated versionof the file. Examples of Media Services include transcription,translation, proofreading, resume review, and cover letter review. SomeMedia Services may require splitting of a media file into multiplesnippets, as described below in detail with reference to FIG. 6B.

Advisory Services:

Advisory Services include structured tasks performed by a credentialedprofessional services provider such as lawyer, accountant, orbookkeeper. These tasks are executed when a job owner (e.g., a legalclient) provides contextual information and/or documents to a worker(e.g., lawyer). The tasks may be facilitated by a job template that askscommon questions necessary to obtain necessary information for certaintypes of Advisory Services. The work management server 160 facilitatesthe collection of necessary information for the Advisory Service,matching to a qualified service provider that meets the job owner'sdetailed requirements.

A job may be associated with a long video. For example, the job mayinvolve translating, reviewing, editing a long video. In such case, along video may be split into multiple sections and assigned to differentworkers to perform tasks on smaller snippets of video. FIG. 6B is adiagram illustrating decomposition of a video over a time line,according to one embodiment. The main video stream 664 is decomposedinto snippets 652 a-n, each with an overlap zone 650 a-n. By allowinglarge enough overlap zones, differences among workers' biases may becalibrated or compared against one another to receive a contiguousreviewing file such as a graph 2340 described below with reference toFIG. 23B. Also, if specific instructions have been given to reviewers,the specific instructions may be added.

In one embodiment, videos may be decomposed to maximize the security ofvideo portions. That is, by decomposing the videos into snippets, nosingle individual viewing a snippet can put together overall meaning.Techniques for maximizing the security include, among others, makingsmall time slices, minimizing slices given to an individual, spreadingout the slices across the overall time of the original video (some fromthe beginning, some from the end) or vice versa, etc. Multiple copies oftime slices may be distributed to different individuals to increaseredundancy. In other cases, while a viewer watches a main video, asecond video may be displayed to provide instructions in real time aboutthe status. The second video may be a tutorial material or provideinstructions on how to enter evaluations on the main video.Additionally, a user may view a video and type comments in real timeinto a text box on the same display with a time stamp to link thecomments to the correct segment of the video.

Further, after results become available, the results may be plotted on atimeline next to a video with a running graph having peaks and valleyssynchronized with the video. For example, if a video has numerouspositive reactions at a given time point, then that point would be seenwith a rising graph leading up to that point, displayed right next tothe video. In some cases where the video has natural time segments suchas innings in a baseball game, the results can be grouped according tothe natural time segmentation. In this way, all evaluations between twotimes are associated with the natural time segment. In another cases ofdisplaying a video on a timeline, a media player could display a videoalong with an integrated timeline, for purposes such as evaluating ortranslating a piece of media or comparing evaluations. Characteristics(e.g., whether the video is boring or interesting at that point in time)can be plotted along the timeline. In addition, a method of convertingvideo evaluation data to a paper report may be displayed s alongside agraph of data about the video, with time codes by the screen shot, alongwith other graphs and indications of the meaningful evaluations at thatpoint in time.

In some cases, to easily combine multiple types of video evaluation, asystem using “mashups” can be enabled such that video can be displayedalongside other independently created software objects. These softwareobjects can gather data on the video and synchronize with the initialvideo (e.g., a web camera that records facial expressions during thewatching of a video).

In one embodiment, tasks may also have advertisement purposes. Suchtasks include what is referred to as “adverployment” that combinescharacteristics of advertisement and a task. For example, eating andgrading a new snack food would introduce a worker to a new type ofhealth food he may otherwise never try, and lets the job owner havethousands of people quickly taste a new food and talk about the food tofriends.

In one embodiment, the workflow engine 258 divides jobs intonon-identical series of tasks that must be performed over time insequence. Such series of tasks include, for example, taking a screenplayand rewriting it for a given need (such as time), and then proofreadingfor general quality from a more finalized script. The sequential natureof the job decomposition makes it different from other jobs that can bedecomposed and recomposed without any time dependency.

In one embodiment, the workflow engine 258 may normalize work to acommon framework (i.e., to have as many common elements in jobs aspossible). Suggestions can be made to take a list of steps tostandardize the tasks by selecting from a list of defined steps or touse an existing template of known steps.

In one embodiment, the workflow engine 258 creates tasks repetitively byregularly posting tasks. For example, the regular task may involvepreparing weekly reports on the same subject matter. In such cases, itis preferable to assign the task to the same worker. The workflow engine258 attempts to arrange the services of the same workers for such tasksbut settle for other available workers if the workers assigned toprevious tasks are unavailable.

In one embodiment, the workflow engine 258 may break up jobs into tasksto be performed in different time zone or parts of country to expeditethe accomplishment of a job. For example, the work management serverspreads tasks associated with a job along all time zones to have as manyworkers as possible working on the job across different hours.

Trust Management

Reliability and trustworthiness of users often plays a critical role insuccess of job management in a virtual environment. When online workmanagement systems are used, job owners and workers interact virtuallyexclusively by electronic communication without face-to-faceinteractions between the parties. Because of such limited interactions,the trustworthiness of a user may be difficult to determine. Further,extensive time and resources may be needed to verify the trustworthinessof job owners or workers. While some workers or job owners may bewilling to invest more time and resources to gain access to more tasksor to workers, others may opt against investing additional time andresources to verify his or her trustworthiness. Therefore, the workmanagement system 110 accommodates a diverse range of demands fordifferent workers and job owners by providing varying levels ofverification. The trustworthiness of a user may represent one, acombination of or all of the following (but not limited to thefollowing): a reliability of user's identity, the likelihood that theuser will complete the task, typical on-time performance and thelikelihood that the user will pay for the task preformed by a worker.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a trust management module 274interacting with a local repository 240, according to one embodiment.The trust management 274 performs various operations to assess the trustlevel of workers. In one embodiment, the trust management module 274 mayinclude, among other components, an arbitration module 710, a thirdparty verification module 726, a fraud detector module 732, and anevaluation engine 740. One or more of these components may beimplemented on a single code module. Alternatively, each of thecomponents may be divided up into two or more code modules. Although theoperation of the trust management module 274 is described hereinafterwith reference to workers, the trust management module 274 may alsoanalyze and generate trust quotients for job owners or intermediators.

The arbitration module 710 collects and analyzes the requests forarbitration and the results of the arbitration. The arbitration module710 is coupled to the dispute resolution system 278 to collectinformation about disputes where the worker is a party. The increasednumber of arbitration requests and unfavorable results of thearbitrations for a worker will tend to show that the worker is producingunsatisfactory work and raises suspicion as to whether the workeractually possesses the skill or qualification indicated in his or herwork profile 780. The arbitration module 710 sends the collectedinformation related to the requests for arbitration and the results ofthe arbitration to the evaluation engine 740.

The third party verification module 726 is coupled to third partysources to collect and verify worker's information in the worker profile780. The third party sources include various types of governmentdatabases, private sources (e.g., credit information agency database,utility company databases, and insurance agency databases), andinformation provided by field investigators. The information in theworker profile 780 and other sources are cross-checked to find anydiscrepancies. If any discrepancies are found, the third partyverification module 726 generates a discrepancy alert signal flaggingthe worker's identity as being possibly fraudulent. The discrepancyalert is sent to the evaluation engine 740. The flagged worker may besubject to further investigation to verify the worker's true identity.As additional information becomes available, additional verification maybe performed by the third party verification module 726. Verificationinformation is then provided to the evaluation engine 740.

The fraud detection module 732 analyzes various data available from thelocal repository 240 and the remote data repositories 148 to detect anypatterns of fraudulent activity. The fraud detection module 732 analyzesnot only the worker's profile but other information such as patterns oftransaction between job owners and workers, duplicative working hourentries for the same worker in different tasks, and suspicious groupingof workers in similar tasks. After suspicious patterns are uncovered,the fraud detector 732 may flag the related workers as being candidatefor further investigation or lower the trust quotients of the workers.The worker profile of the related workers stored in the local repository240 may then be updated to show that the worker may be fraudulent. Anadministrator or investigated by administrators of the work managementsystem 110 may then conduct further investigation. The fraud detectionmodule 732 may generate a fraud alert signal that is fed to theevaluation engine 740. The fraud alert signal indicates that the workermay be engaged in fraudulent activities.

The worker profile 780 stores various information associated with theworker such as the worker's trust quotient, worker's personalinformation, information about the worker verified from third partysources, worker's authentication information (log-in name and password),scores on tests performed using the work management server 160 or othertest administering agencies, and preferences of workers. The workerprofile 780 may be accessed by the workflow engine 258 to search forworkers qualifying for certain tasks. A task history database 784 storesthe workers previous history of tasks and any feedback or reviews of theworkers provided by job owners.

The evaluation engine 740 is coupled to the arbitration module 710, thethird party verification module 726, the fraud detector module 732, theworker profile 780 and the task history 784 to receive data fordetermining the trust quotient 748 of the workers. The trust quotientrepresents the reliability of the worker's identity. The trust quotientsare updated as additional information about the workers' identity andwork performance information become available. The trust quotient 748 asgenerated or updated by the evaluation engine 740 is stored in theworker profile 780 for access by the workflow engine 258 and thejob/task specification module 254. The workflow engine 258 may accessthe trust quotients to filter qualified workers for tasks. The job/taskspecification module 254 may access the trust quotients to estimate thenumber of qualified numbers as the job owners sets the requirements orqualifications of the workers eligible to work on the tasks.

In one embodiment, the evaluation engine assigns different trustquotient values based on the information available in the worker profile780. Workers providing more information may be given a higher trustquotient. As more reliable information is received from the worker orverified from other sources, the trust quotients may be raised. Forexample, if the worker provides biometric data or government issued IDcard, the worker's identity is deemed more reliable and the informationmay be raised. Also, a letter may be sent to the physical address of theworker including a number. The worker may enter the number afterreceiving the letter so that the worker's address is verified. Highertrust quotients may be given to bonded, insured workers and lower trustquotients may be given to workers providing only email addressverification.

In one embodiment, a user may have different ID which may be assigneddifferent trust quotients. Also, one or more users may be assigned thesame ID which is assigned with a trust quotient separate from the trustquotients of the member users of the same ID.

In one embodiment, messages (e.g., instant messages or emails) to asender may be held in communication escrow if the sender or the receiverhas trust quotients below a threshold. The messages may be forwarded tothe sender when the trust quotients of both the sender and the receiverexceed a threshold. Further, a double-secure email system may beprovided in which both sides are maintained anonymous and only known tothe work management server 160.

Searching Tasks for Workers

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the process of searching for tasks bya worker, according to one embodiment. After a worker logs into the workmanagement server 160, tasks available and to the worker are determined810. The worker module 270 of the work management server 160 sends 814information about tasks eligible to the worker via the network 100 tothe worker's user terminal 130 or 140. The worker may want to narrowdown the tasks by one or more filtering parameters (e.g., wages higherthan certain amount). The parameters for filtering the eligible tasksare received 818 from the worker. The work management server 160 filtersthe eligible tasks according to the filtering parameters and presents822 the filtered tasks to the workers.

It is then determined 826 if further refinements on filtering parametersare needed. If further refinements are needed, the process returns toreceiving 818 modified filtering parameters from the worker and repeatsthe process. If further refinements to the filters are not needed, theprocess proceeds to receive 830 selection of a task by the worker.Detailed information about the selected task is retrieved and thenpresented 834 to the worker. One or more of these processes may bepreformed in parallel to each other or reversed in sequence.

The selection of the task by the worker may also be accompanied by otherprocesses such as requesting further information from the job owner orsigning up for the task. Alternatively, a worker may continue to lookfor other work by selecting other tasks or further refining the filters.

In one embodiment, the searching of tasks by the worker may beaccompanied by interaction with job owners. For example, the worker mayconduct interviews with job owners over various communication tools(e.g., messenger or webcam) to inquire and obtain information aboutother tasks that the job owners are offering.

FIG. 9 is a graphic representation of a user interface 900 displayed toa worker for searching tasks, according to one embodiment. The worker'savatar or identity 910 is shown in a header section 902 on the top ofthe user interface 900. The header section 902 also includes badges 914,918 of accomplishments or achievements by the worker. A window 904 isdisplayed below the header section 902 to present a list of tasks 926available to the user. The worker may use drop-down menus 922 on the topof the window 904 to set filters for the list of tasks. FIG. 9illustrates the “pay” filter being selected where drop-down menu 932 isdisplayed to allow the worker to filter the available tasks based onbase pay. As a filter is selected by the worker, the list of worksmatching a filter condition is updated in the window 904. By using suchfilters, the worker can conveniently search for tasks satisfying variousconditions such as immediately available tasks, best-paying tasks, mostsuitable tasks, tasks most helpful for career advancement, etc. Thefilter function may be implemented, for example, in the worker module270 or the workflow engine 258. The updating of the list of work basedon the filtering conditions may be performed using various techniquesthat are well known in the art, such as DHTML (Dynamic HyperText MarkupLanguage), flash, and flex.

In one embodiment, the worker module 270 operates with the user terminal130 or 140 to present two separate windows on the worker's userinterface. The first window displays tasks for which the worker isalready qualified. The second window displays tasks for which the workermay qualify by providing incremental qualifying information and/oraccomplishing incremental certifications.

In the first window, the display of tasks and allocation of tasks toworkers are prioritized based on the highest-paying job for which theworker is qualified. The most common reason a worker to choose alower-paying job is because the worker does not have the time availableto complete the higher-paying job. Therefore, the worker may be allowedto filter tasks based on time available to the worker. The worker mayrefine the filtered list of tasks by selecting, for example, work hoursavailable from right now, work hours available for the next 24 hours,work hours available for the next three days, and work hours availablefor the next week. Workers may also control the tasks displayed in thefirst window via an advanced search feature that allows users toprioritize tasks based on criteria including: employer, time required,total compensation, compensation/hour, reputation requirements,deadline, geographical requirements, educational requirements,experience requirements, credential requirements, and othercharacteristics of the job. The advanced search feature may beaccessible by a button on the user interface that triggers a popupwindow.

The second window displays tasks for which the worker is not precludedbased on information already provided by the worker, but for which theworker has not provided necessary information or credentials to qualify.The display of tasks in the second window may be prioritized to increasethe worker's pay relative to highest paying tasks for which the workeris currently qualified for or estimated time required by the worker toqualify for this task. The tasks displayed in the second window may befiltered in the same manner as the tasks in the first window.

Similar user interfaces may be presented to job owners to locateappropriate workers. Alternatively, various other user interfaces may bedisplayed to allow workers or job owners to select from a large numberof options.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 presents tasks similarto those selected, preferred or previously performed by the worker.Furthermore, the work management server 160 allows a worker to create afilter. The filter may be created, for example, by modifying anexemplary filter. The work management server 160 may store suchexemplary filters with predefined settings that may be modified by theworker. Also, the work management server 160 may display a smaller poolof jobs and progressively increase the pool of available tasks as theworker establishes good reputation, receive good evaluation from jobowners or the number of finished tasks increases. The detailedinformation about the task may include what requirements need to be metin order to qualify for immediate payment from job owners.

The work management server 160 may provide other supporting features toworkers such as (i) optimizing the worker's time available for task,(ii) setting configuration of user interfaces to filter the task, (iii)informing workers how to become eligible for more tasks, earn more pertask or access better tasks by evaluating barriers to higher earning(e.g., enroll in a training program, focus on certain types of tasks,obtain an academic degree, (iv) reserving tasks from job owners, (v)notifying workers when tasks may become available in high quantity, (vi)matching jobs or tasks preferences of workers, (vii) providingnotification services for jobs preferred by a worker, (viii) allowingbidding of time, fee or other criteria to receive a commitment from ajob owner to give a large quantity of job, and (viii) automaticallyscheduling time for the workers based on task.

In one embodiment, the work management system 160 may identify workerswith valuable skills such as speedy translation or expertise in militarytactics using the testing (provided by the training and testing module280) and make recommendations to job owners.

In one embodiment, a task or tasks may become available only after thenumber of workers willing to work of the task or tasks exceeds athreshold. Reservations from the workers for the task or tasks arereceived and tracked by the work management server. After the number ofthe workers exceeds the threshold, the work management server notifiesthe workers who made the reservation and allows the workers to performthe task or tasks.

In one embodiment, the work management server provides preferentialaccess to tasks based on previous work. A worker may be required toperform a certain number of tasks before obtaining access to highlysought-after tasks.

In one embodiment, information regarding whether certain workers satisfyspecial prerequisites for accomplish a task (e.g., owning season ticketsto games of a team) is stored. The information may be accessed to selecta worker that could reduce the cost associated with the task.

Expansion of Services Using Partner Services

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the work management system 160interacting with partner services 1010A through 1010N, according to oneembodiment. The partners systems 1010A through 1010N (hereinaftercollectively referred to as “the partner services 1010”) may includeonline partner sites such as Linden Labs' Second Life, World ofWitchcraft, Facebook, Cragslist, MySpace, Twitter, Linked-In, and othersocial networking or on-line commerce sites. The partner services 1010coupled via the network 100 to the work management server 160. Eachpartner service stores data such as user profiles, user avatars,environments, etc. The user profiles in the partner services may includedata associated with an avatar, job skills, job preferences, etc.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 allows users (both jobowners and workers) to connect to avatars or similar on-line personasused with the partner services 1010. A user may, for example, combinework and play using such linked avatars or other on-line personas.

A “space travel” type approach may be used to shift the same avatars orother online personas between different partner services and the workmanagement server. Further, the work management server 160 mayaccommodate port holes, allowing users to seamlessly move between thepartner services 1010 and the work management server 160. The reputationof a person represented by an avatar or online persona may be displayedon the user terminals 130, 140. For example, an avatar or an onlinepersona may wear badges described above in detail with reference to FIG.9.

The work management server 160 may also employ a method for aclassification system for online personas and avatars. For example,elite avatars with special features may be created for elite workers toallow the workers to reap benefits such as preferred job access.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating the process of linking an identityof a user in partner services with the identity of a work managementserver, according to one embodiment. Users enter information associatedwith avatars or online persona into the work management server 160. Theinformation is received 1102 at the work management server 160.Information for accessing the partner services 1010 (e.g., a login IDand a password) is obtained 1106 from the partner services 1010. Whenthe user logs in, links are created 1110 between the two avataridentities. The account data of the received partner services may bestored in the local repository 240 for future use. Various optionsassociated with the avatars may also be received 1114 from the user. Theavailable options include, for example, selecting a leisure suit for hisavatar for certain recreation applications and a business suit for hisavatar for business applications. The user's selections are then stored1118 in the local repository 240 (and possibly in databases of thepartner services).

Managing Reputation Scores

FIG. 12A is a block diagram illustrating a reputation score manager 290in a work management system 160, according to one embodiment. Thereputation score manager 290 is responsible for gathering data fromvarious sources and computing a reputation score for each user (e.g., aworker or a job owner). In the embodiment of FIG. 12A, the reputationscore manager 290 collects information from the remote repositories 148,the local repository 240, the partner services 1010 and other additionalsources 1250. The reputation score manager 290 processes informationreceived from these sources and generates updated reputation scores1220. The reputation score manager 290 may be coupled with the trustmanagement module 274 to provide information needed for processing thetrust quotients.

In one embodiment, the reputation score manager 290 receive pre-existingreputation scores and metadata 1230 from the remote repository 148,pre-existing reputation scores and metadata 1240 from the localrepository 240, reputation scores from the partner services 1010 and newreputation scores and metadata 1254 from the additional source 1250.

In one embodiment, the reputation score manager 290 provides reputationscores on multiple categories. For example, in addition to an overallreputation score, each worker may be associated with reputation scoresspecific to: (i) completion of task, (ii) quality of task results, (iii)timeliness, and (iv) independence of execution. Similarly, each jobowner, in addition to an overall reputation score, may be associatedwith reputation scores specific to: (i) clarity of job definition, (ii)accuracy of estimated time required, (iii) approval of work, and (iv)timeliness of approval.

In one embodiment, regression and machine learning techniques may beused to determine which methods are more accurate in predictingperformance relative to the above reputation scores and how each factorshould be weighted in the prediction. The reputation score manager 290delivers the above eight reputation scores in addition to overallreputation scores.

In one embodiment, the reputation score manager 290 has a regressionengine that automatically identifies the key independent variables for aworker or job owner: (i) across tasks, (ii) for a category of tasks, and(iii) for a given task. Thus, a worker and job owner's reputations arenot only universal to all jobs, but are provided relative to the eightreputation scores for a specific task or category of tasks. For example,the reputation score may indicate that a worker completes 96% of alljobs he takes on, 100% of the audio transcription jobs he takes on, butonly 88% of the franchise auditing jobs he accepts.

The math of regression engines is well-known to those skilled in theart. The quality of the predictions can be improved by Boostingalgorithms, a machine learning technique that assists in the selectionof independent variables and in the determination of the optimalweighting in the regression (boosting of the regression estimators).

To feed the regressions, the reputation score manager 290 collectsdetailed data as each job is executed on the characteristics of theworker and job owner and on the results. The reputation score manager290 assembles a historical data set by which the task results (dependentvariables) can be compared to (i) the characteristics of the workers whodelivered them and (ii) the characteristics of the job owners thatdefined the Jobs and approved them (independent variables). The data setfeeds the regression estimates.

The regression formulas for a given task or a category of tasks may needto be recalculated as new data is collected. The triggers forrecalculation can be either periodic (if computing resources are not afactor) or they can be determined mathematically when analysis of thedata set indicates that recalculation of the regression estimators mayyield a statistically significant change. Example triggers may be thatthe relevant data set has increased substantially in size or that theaverages or the median of an independent variable has shiftedsignificantly.

Recalculation of the regression formulas should be distinguished fromrecalculation of the eight reputation scores for a worker or job owner.Ranking based on the eight reputations scores may be recalculatedaccording to the regression formulas every time new data is collected onthe worker or job owner, or every time a new task is defined.

In one embodiment, the reputation scores are displayed in the profilesof workers and job owners such that they can be examined by theircounterparties to a transaction.

The reputation score may be used by job owners to prepare jobdescriptions and by workers in choosing which jobs they want to execute.The reputation scores may be (i) “algorithmic” metrics that may becaptured automatically by the reputation score manager 290, (ii)“subjective” metrics based on subjective judgments or entries by thecounterparty to a task, (iii) “redundancy-generated” metrics based on athird party arbiter of accuracy or quality in a “contest” in which twooutputs are compared having been generated from the sameinputs/directions, (iv) “3rd Party Data” metrics provided by sourcessuch as First Data, Axciom, or ChoicePoint, (v) “credential” metricsinclude credentials such as academic degrees and professional,widely-recognized credentials (ex. CPA, CFA) (these may be verified orunverified by the work management system 110), (vi) “certification”metrics including badges, designations, and other certifications createdby job owners or work management server 160, and (vii) “audit” which isa unique class of certifications in which the worker pays to be auditedrandomly and without knowing that a particular task is actually anaudit. The auditor is a highly-trained and screened professional. The“audit” is designed for tasks with high subjectivity in which expertjudgment is required to measure performance. An example of “audit” maybe a legal procedure (e.g., incorporation) in which an attorney as aworker may pay for a “TopNotch” audit. By paying, the attorney (worker)gets the opportunity to be ranked by an expert posing as a job ownerneeding an incorporation procedure. The job owner may be ranked on avariety of criteria by the expert such as questions asked to inform theprocedure, handling of a dispute, coverage of business issues, etc.Scripts may be created for such audits to automate the process.

In one embodiment, a job owner's reputation score on work approval ratesmay be based on (i) first-time approval rates that are measured as thepercentage of tasks of a certain type that the job owner has approved or(ii) an overall job approval rates measured as the percentage of tasks acertain type that the job owner has approved. Both reputation metricsare algorithmic.

In one embodiment a job owner's reputation score on the time accuracy(i.e., accuracy of time estimate specified in a task description) iscomputed by as an average of ((required time as reported byworker—estimated time in task description)/estimated time in the taskdescription). This percentage may be converted into a numerical rankingon a Likert scale wherein a 1 is bad and indicates that the calculationyields a large positive percentage, and 5 indicates a large negativepercentage and indicates that the job owner significantly overestimatedthe time required for the task. The percentage can also be applied tothe hourly pay specified by the job owner in the job description toobtain a predicted hourly pay (predicted by the work management server160) that is adjusted by the amount to which the job owner is usuallyoff in the estimate of time required. The reputational scores on thetime accuracy may also be measured algorithmically by computing thefollowing: (Required Time as measured by time usage of Media Player andother tools/Estimated Time in Task Description).

In one embodiment, job owners' reputation scores on the clarity of taskare determined algorithmically by measuring the rate of questions fromworkers on the task description. Specifically, this reputation metric ismeasured based on the percentage of tasks in which the workers requestedclarification on instructions, inputs and outputs of the task. The ratefor instructions, inputs and outputs of the tasks may be measuredindependently. Messages between the workers and job owners through thework management server 160 may be tracked to count the number ofrequests on clarification. When drafting the messages, the worker may berequired to provide the nature of the correspondence, for example, froma drop-down menu indicating that the correspondence is concerningclarifications of instructions, inputs or outputs of the task.

In one embodiment, a job owner's reputation score on timeliness approvalis determined algorithmically by averaging the time between the worker'ssubmission of the results of a task for approval and the time that thetask is approved or rejected by the job owner. For tasks that the jobowner rejects, the process may be reiterated and the average approvaltime may be obtained for multiple submissions and approval/rejection.

In one embodiment, a job owner's reputation score on responsiveness isdetermined algorithmically by tracking an average time elapsed between aworker's submission of a question and the job owner's response thereto.

In one embodiment, a worker's reputation score on task completion rateis determined by computing the percentage of tasks that are assigned tothe worker and the tasks that is completed and approved.

In one embodiment, a worker's reputation score on on-time performancerates is determined algorithmically by calculating the percentage oftasks that are completed by the worker within the deadline specified bya job owner. The percentage may be adjusted if the delay is due towaiting for the job owner's answers in responding to worker's questions

In one embodiment, a worker's reputation score on independence (i.e.,the rate of questions on task descriptions) is determinedalgorithmically by computing the percentage of tasks in which the workerhas requested clarification on instructions, inputs and outputs of thetasks. The rates may be measured independently for each of instructions,inputs, and outputs.

In one embodiment, a worker's reputation score on the quality of thework is determined algorithmically by at least one of (i) work approvalrates, (ii) overall satisfaction rating from a job owner, (iii) matchupratings and (iv) audits. The worker approval rates may be determined asfirst-time approval rates (measured as the percentage of tasks that jobowners approved without subsequent iterations) and overall job approvalrates (measured as the percentage of tasks that the job owners approvedafter requesting iterations). The overall satisfaction ratings are usedon tasks that have subjective elements in the task. Inputs from the jobowners may be 10-Likert point scale asked of job owners for any jobwherein performance is subjective. Job owners' average satisfactionratings may be normalized relative to ratings of other job owners. Jobowner's characteristics such as (i) propensity for harsh or glowingsatisfaction ratings, (ii) rating of the job owner, (iii) the amount ofdata available on the job owner, and (iv) the scope and history ofengagements between the job owner and the work management system 110 maybe considered. Ratings from job owners that have extensive history withthe work management system 110 may be given more weight in determiningthe reputation scores of the workers. The matchup ratings is thepercentage of match-ups that the worker wins in contests when a thirdparty arbiter of accuracy or quality compares two results generated bydifferent workers based on the same inputs and instructions. The workmanagement system 110 may conduct audits for various types of jobs andadjust the reputation scores of the workers, accordingly.

In one embodiment, reputation reports may be generated and presented toworkers and job owners after a job is completed and feedback has beenprovided. In the reputation reports, workers and job owners receivefeedback on their performance against all of the above reputation scoresfor the particular task, and see how their overall reputation scoreswere modified.

In one embodiment, the reputation score manager 290 includes, amongother components, a conversion module 1214 and a modifier 1218. Theconversion module 1214 is responsible for translating differentreputation scores collected from various sources into a normalizeduniform score distribution for processing. For example, the partnerservices may use a scoring system different from the work managementserver 160 to assess the reputation of the users. The conversion module1214 converts reputation scores from such sources into a score that isused by the work management server 160.

The modifier 1218 adjusts the scores provided by different users usingstatistic tools. The modifier 1218 normalizes the reputation score basedon other users' typical rating ranges. For example, if, on a scale of 1to 10, a user doles out only 7 s, 8 s, 9 s and 10 s, the user's ratingsshould be normalized so that 7 s are equivalent to a 1 or 2 in a normaldistribution curve. The modifier 1218 analyzes the patterns of feedbackgiven by the users and modifies reputation scores according to thehistory of previous feedbacks.

In one embodiment, metadata associated with the reputation scores arereceived with the pre-existing reputation scores available fromdifferent sources. The metadata may indicate the permissible range andthe technique that were received for generating the pre-existingreputation scores. The metadata may associated with the reputationscores may be stored in the local repository 240.

FIG. 12B is a flowchart illustrating the process of updating areputation score, according to one embodiment. First, the reputationscore manager 290 collects 1260 information associated with computingthe reputation scores from various sources. The reputation score manager(specifically, the conversion module 1214) applies 1264 filters to thecollected information according to predefined rules. The modifier 1218modifies 1268 scores based on previous history of feedbacks from anevaluating user, and then cleans up 1268 the information. As describedabove, the modifier 1218 normalizes collected data associated withdifferent evaluating users. The clean-up eliminates or flags outliers(atypical data). The outliers may be subject to follow-up inquiries. Inone embodiment, the reputation score manager 290 compares 1272 theupdated reputation scores with ratings of the user in other systems tocorrelate data and verify its accuracy.

Based on the updated reputation score, a user (e.g., worker or jobowner) may become qualified for award or introduced to new peer groupsby the work management server 160. In one embodiment, a managementmodule (not shown) in the work management server 160 performs variousmanagement functions including, among others, assigning users to one ormore peer groups and tracking the awards given to the workers. Themanagement module receives information from reputation score manager290, the training and testing module 280 and/or the local repository 240to update and manage user profiles in the local repository 240associated with award or peer group.

In one embodiment, the reputation score manager 290 uses differentvariables to ensure consistency between reputation methodologycalculations such as standard deviation and average. Variables can alsobe combined so that a constant mean value may be found. Then all valuesare scaled to fit a given range. Other variations pertain to the natureof the reputation score, which can be a simple number or a letter oricon representing reputation relative to others.

In one embodiment, the reputation score manager 290 logs in as the userand download ratings from the partner services 1010 to update thereputation score. In another embodiment, an account may be establishedto allow the reputation score manager 290 to access the partner services1010. The partner services may be accessed to inspect rating informationassociated with the users from a public profile in the partner'sservices. The approach of collecting information from the public profileis less thorough and reliable than logging in as the user because thetrue identity of the user cannot be verified. In one embodiment, thereputation score manager 290 uses messaging mechanism provided by thepartner services 1010 to verify whether the user is indeed the holder ofthe account in the partner services 1010.

FIGS. 12C and 12D are graphs illustrating adapting the value of atransferred reputation score, according to one embodiment. A line 1278represents a first reputation score according to one rating mechanismand a line 1280 represents a second reputation score using anotherrating mechanism. The data represented by the lines 1278 and 1280 may beretrieved from various sources such as the local repository 240 andother systems that a reputation score. Because the first and secondreputation scores were generated using different rating mechanisms, thereputation scores need to be normalized. Using techniques such ascomparative extrapolation, the reputation score manager 1210 maynormalize the first or the second reputation scores. A line 1282 in FIG.12D represents a rating in one system, and a line 1280 represents theline 1278 normalized to match the line 1284. The reputation scoremanager 1210 then stores the normalized reputation score in the localrepository 240 and/or makes the normalized reputation score availablefor other external systems.

Location-Based Task Assignment

FIG. 13A is a diagram illustrating the components of a location-basedwork management system 1300, according to one embodiment. The workmanagement server 1312 hosts application software 1314 and a datarepository 1318. The work management server 1312 is coupled via thenetwork 100 to a wireless network 1310. The wireless network 1310 allowsthe work management server 1312 to couple wirelessly via a tower 1320 toa mobile phone 1330.

The mobile phone 1330 includes a communication module 1344 that allowsthe mobile phone 1330 to communicate with the work management server1312. The mobile phone 1330 is, for example, a GPS (Global PositioningSystem) enhanced smartphone. GPS module 1342 communicates with GPSsatellite(s) 1302 to obtain the location data of the mobile phone 1330.Other well known positioning techniques including but not limited toradio triangulation, inertial navigation, magnetic navigation, may alsobe used. The mobile phone 1330 includes a software module 1346 forrunning software such as a browser, a phone operating system, plug-ins,and applications downloaded from the work management server 1312. Themobile phone 1330 is merely an example and various other types ofportable devices such as a laptop with cell phone card and triangulationfunction may be used.

FIG. 13B is a flowchart illustrating the process of searching workersbased on locations, according to one embodiment. First, the workmanagement server 1312 selects 1350 a task. This task selection may beperformed continuously or repeated by a software daemon to look forunassigned tasks. The work management server 1312 retrieves 1352 datafrom data repository 1318 about qualified workers whose location matchesthe location associated with the selected task.

The work management server 1312 confirms 1354 the location of theworker. The distance to the worker from the location associated with theselected task may also be computed. The workers are then filtered andselected 1356 based on the location of the worker. When filtering andselecting the workers, various factors may be considered. Such factorsinclude, for example, the time and cost of travel, and tickets or feesthat may be necessary to access the location (e.g., a ball park or atoll road). By using such filtering criteria, the cost associated withthe task may be reduced. If a task is associated with a ball park or atoll road, only workers already in the ball park or driving on the tollroad may be selected. These workers need not pay for entrance fee to thepark or toll fee, and therefore, the cost associated with the task maybe reduced.

After the worker is selected, the task is assigned 1360 to the selectedworker. In one embodiment, messages may be sent to the worker so thatthe worker may perform the location-based task. The messages may containa URL (Universal Resource Locator) or attached with software to allowthe worker to conveniently perform the tasks.

FIG. 13C is a flowchart illustrating the process of searching tasksbased on locations, according to one embodiment. First, the workmanagement server 1312 receives 1362 the worker's location from themobile phone 1330. Based on the worker's location, the work managementserver 1312 filters 1364 the tasks within a certain radius or in an areato obtain available tasks. The worker may set the radius or area (e.g.,within a ball park, a toll road, inside an international terminal) tofilter the available tasks. The worker's selection of the tasks isreceived 1366 at the work management server 1312. The data associatedwith the selected task is then sent 1368 to the worker. The results ofthe tasks are received 1370 from the worker. In one embodiment, thelocation information is also received 1370 from the worker to confirmthat the task was performed within the required location.

In one embodiment, the work management server 1312 may deliver dataand/or software needed for the work as a package to the mobile phone1330 to facilitate the worker to perform the task. The mobile phone 1330may be adapted to process the special package of software and data forperforming the task.

In one embodiment, the work management server 1312 records the locationof workers both prior to performing the task and after performing thetask. The worker's current and planned locations may also be stored.Further, the work management server 1312 may allow the worker to narrowdown the locality where the worker is searching for work. For example,if the task is designated to be performed in the San Francisco Bay Area,the work management server 1312 may offer task location information withfiner-granularity (e.g., task to be performed in San Jose, Berkeley, SanFrancisco, etc.).

In one embodiment, the work management server 1312 packages data,software and communication tools, for jobs into a single binary object(package) including a message and the information necessary to start thetask immediately.

In one embodiment, the work management server 1312 createsgeographically-oriented advertisement tasks. The tasks may ask users ina certain region, for example, to visit a place or to purchase certainitems and test them. Narrow targeted users may be reached based ongeographic location by finely tuning geographic location where the usersare residing to maximize the effect of advertisement.

Intermediator Support

An intermediator is an entity that receives one or more tasks from a jobowner, divides the tasks into subtasks and then distributes some or allof the subtasks to workers. The intermediator includes generalcontractors who perform at least part of the task themselves. Theintermediator may also have skills, specialized knowledge or experiencesin reorganizing or restructuring tasks so that the tasks may beperformed by more workers. Using such skills, knowledge or experiences,the intermediator may prepare a reorganization scheme for jobs or tasksand send the reorganization scheme for a fee to an interested party(e.g., job owner). The intermediators assist job owners to take fulladvantage of the work management system 110 by allowing the job ownersto assign tasks to workers that would otherwise remain without anyeligible or capable workers to take on the tasks.

FIG. 14A is a block diagram illustrating the intermediator supportmodule 286, according to one embodiment. The intermediator supportmodule 286 may include, among other components, a task group manager1402, a subtask specification module 1404, a general contractor supportmodule 1406, a worker resource access module 1408, a subtask submitter1410, and an opportunity data generator 1414. One or more of thesecomponents may be combined into a single code module or be split intoone or more components. Further, one or more of these components may beimplemented on other modules of the work management server 160.

The task group manager 1402 allows two or more job owners, workers orintermediators to form entities. In one embodiment, the task groupmanager 1402 is software or routines executed by a processor. Theentities may be organized into a hierarchy reflective of a realenterprise or organization (e.g., established company) or have ahierarchy in the form of an ad hoc group formed for the work managementsystem 110. The enterprise or organization can range from a smallbusiness enterprise including a couple of members to a large businessenterprise with thousands of members. Each entity in an enterprise ororganization may perform certain specialized functions (e.g., accountingand human resources management). Workers or intermediators may beassigned to two or more entities and managed by the task group manager1402. The task group manager 1402 generates information related toidentity of entities, members included in the entities, and therelationship between the entities. Such information may be stored in thelocal repository 240 or in the task group manager 1402.

In one embodiment, an entity in an organization or an enterprise maydistribute jobs or tasks to other entities in the enterprise using thework management system 110. If the jobs or tasks are not taken by otherentities within the same enterprise or organization, the jobs or tasksmay be made available to entities or workers outside the enterprise ororganization. Entity publishing the jobs or tasks may be made anonymousby an anonymizer module 1806, as described below in detail withreference to FIG. 18A. Managing the jobs or tasks in such mannerestablishes a mechanism that allows groups in the same enterprise ororganization to compete with each other and entities outside theorganization or enterprise. In this way, more efficient distribution oftasks may be carried out.

The subtask specification module 1404 allows an intermediator togenerate task descriptions. The intermediator analyzes assigned tasks,and generates task descriptions in a manner similar to generating a jobdescription using the subtask specification module 1404. The subtasksubmitter 1410 receives the task description generated by the subtaskspecification module 1404, and forwards the task-subtask description tothe workflow engine 258.

The general contractor support module 1406 is responsible for supportingvarious operations by general contractors. The general contractorsupport module 1406 may assist the general contractors to divide thetask assigned into subtasks for other workers, track the process of workby the workers, and plan expenses associated with each subtask.

The worker resource access module 1408 allows the intermediators to finda pool of workers not participating in the work management system 110.The worker resource access module 1408 may communicate with one or moresystems that store information about available workers. Such systemsinclude, for example, databases of state employment offices. Theintermediators may access such external systems via the worker resourceaccess module 1408 and search for workers who may work on subtasks underthe supervision of the intermediators.

The opportunity data generator 1414 is responsible for generating andsending opportunity data to the intermediators. The opportunity dataindicates type of jobs or tasks that are not being successfullyfulfilled using the work management system 110. The reason that the jobor task is not being fulfilled may be due to various reasons including,among others, high qualification or requirements for tasks, unreasonablyhigh expectations of job owners which lead to majority of worker'sresults being rejected by the job owners, and poorly defined jobs andtasks. The opportunity data generator 1414 may retrieve and analyze jobpostings from the local repository 240 and/or the remote datarepositories 148 to detect possible opportunity for the intermediator toparticipate. The opportunity data generator 1414 may grade work requestsby volume to see if there are enough requests to create a new market bymodifying the job description or by providing training. The opportunitydata generator 1414 may consider various parameters including but notlimited to the number of unfulfilled tasks of similar characteristics,the number of hours and compensation associated with task, and the totalvalue of the job or task. The opportunity data generator 1414 thendetermines which job postings are worth analysis, and send theinformation in the opportunity data to intermediators

FIG. 14B is a flowchart for illustrating the process of creating amarket for a category of jobs by using the opportunity data generator1414, according to one embodiment. First, the opportunity data generator1414 collects 1420 information about unfulfilled tasks from the localrepository 240 and/or the remote data repositories 148. Unfulfilledtasks are then grouped 1422 based on one or more factors such as workerqualifications, job descriptions and salary. The opportunity datagenerator 1414 then determines 1426 whether the grouped tasks satisfycriteria for creating a market. If the group of tasks does not meet thecriteria, then the process ends. If the group of tasks meets thecriteria, then the tasks are marked 1428 as opportunity and theopportunity data associated with the group of tasks are generated. Theopportunity data is then sent 1430 to intermediators who have registeredfor certain types of opportunities. The notification to theintermediators may be send via a variety of communication means,including but not limited to emails, SMS (Short Message Service), andinstant messages. Then the process terminates.

In one embodiment, the opportunity data generator 1414 runsperiodically, for example, every hour, every week or every day togenerate the opportunity data. The opportunity data generator 1414 maylook for several types of opportunities at the same time, and may sendout notifications to different groups of intermediators depending onwhat types of opportunities the intermediators have registered for.

FIG. 14C is a flowchart for illustrating the process of dividing tasksinto subtasks by an intermediator, according to one embodiment. Theopportunity data generator 1414 receives 1432 selection of unfulfilledtasks by the intermediator. The opportunity data generator 1414retrieves the opportunity data from the local repository 240 and/or theremote data repositories 148 and presents 1434 the opportunity data tothe intermediator. The intermediator then creates subtasks for theselected task based on the intermediator's expertise.

Specifically, the intermediator arbitrates between the demands of thejob owner and the capabilities of the available workers to design tasktemplate organizing the task into subtasks. By dividing the tasks indifferent ways, workers who might not be qualified to take on a largertask may be qualified to take on one or more smaller subtasks. Theintermediator generates a task template including subtask datarepresenting how the task should be divided and organized into subtasks.The task template is then received 1436 at the opportunity datagenerator 1414. It is then determined 1438 whether an input is receivedto send the task template to the job owner. After generating the tasktemplate, the intermediator can decide whether to offer the tasktemplate to the job owner (sell the know-how of how to divide the task)or to take on a role as an intermediator and assign the tasks to otherworkers. If the intermediator decides to offer the task template to thejob owner, a message including the task template may be sent 1446 to thejob owner possibly in return for payment of fees by the job owner.

If the intermediator decides not to offer the task template to the jobowner and instead decides to serve as an intermediator, theintermediator may generate 1440 subtasks based on the task template. Theintermediator then publishes 1442 the subtasks as generated by the tasktemplate. Then it is determined 1444 whether additional training isneeded for the workers applying for the task. If no additional trainingis needed, the process ends. If additional training is needed, theprocess continues with training the workers, as described below withreference to FIG. 14D.

FIG. 14D is a flowchart for illustrating the process of creating atraining program using a training and testing module 280, according toone embodiment. First, the training and testing module 280 receives 1450the scripts for running a training program from a designer of thetraining program (e.g., the intermediator). The scripts are stored 1452in the local repository 240 and/or the remote data repositories 148. Thetraining program is then published 1454 and made available to theworkers (and/or other interested parties) by the training and testingmodule 280. In one embodiment, only candidate workers passing a testadministered after the training are allowed to sign up for the subtask.The training may also be interactive, where the candidate worker isrequired to participate proactively. Throughout the training, skilledindividuals may participate in training of the candidate workers andprovide feedbacks to the candidate workers. Training may be performedusing a variety of devices such as an MP3 player or an iPhone, forexample. By training, the worker may become eligible to take on thesubtasks as designed by the intermediator.

In one embodiment, the training and testing module 280 evaluates theeffectiveness of the training. After training is accomplished, the workmanagement server may determine if the training was effective bycomparing pre-training and post-training results, and comparing workerswho completed the training and workers who did not complete thetraining. Also included could be a method of employer rating, allowingindividuals to provide input to ratings of employers, and usingimpartial information to give employers reputations. For example, anemployer who fills out task instructions minimally and gets poor resultsfrom workers may be seen as worse than ones that provide fully describedtasks.

Task Modification

FIG. 15A is a diagram illustrating components associated with modifyingtasks to find a sufficient pool of candidate workers, according to oneembodiment. After the job description 314 is generated by the job/taskspecification module 254, the job description 314 is fed to the workflowengine 258. The workflow engine 258 reads the job description 314 andgenerates task descriptions 320A through 320N. Each task description 320is associated with one task to be assigned to a worker.

The task descriptions 1504 generated by the workflow engine 258 may needmodification for one or more reasons. For example, the restrictions orqualification as required by the task descriptions 320 may be toorestrictive and result in an excessively small pool of eligible workers.Alternatively, the task descriptions may leave some fields remainunfilled to be filled automatically by an algorithm. For example, thejob owner may set a ceiling for the total expense associated with a job,and may want to design tasks to obtain optimal results within the cappedtotal expense. In such case, the fields associated with the budget foreach task may remain unfilled in the task descriptions and optimizedusing an algorithm implementing an optimization process.

The J/T (Job/Task) modifier 1508 receives the job description 314 andthe task descriptions 320. The J/T modifier 1508 then generates modifiedtask descriptions 1510 by modifying one or more fields of the taskdescriptions 320. The modified task descriptions 1510 are then fed to amatching engine 1512 to determine if the modified task descriptions 1510satisfy one or more criteria. If the criteria are not satisfied, themodified task descriptions 1510 are again fed to the J/T modifier 1508to further modify the task descriptions. The process of modifying thetask descriptions and evaluating by the matching engine 1512 may beperformed recursively until the criteria are met. If the modified taskdescriptions satisfy the criteria, the modified task descriptions areoutput as updated task descriptions 1514. The updated task descriptions1514, with the job owner's approval, may be posted for workers'application for the tasks.

In one embodiment, the criteria evaluated at the matching engine 1512include the number of eligible workers. The requirements orqualifications of the workers are gradually lowered by the J/T modifier1508 until the pool of eligible workers reach a predetermined value. Thedata associated with the operation of the matching engine 1512 may bestored in the local data repository 240.

Additional tasks may also be created by the J/T modifier 1508. The J/Tmodifier 1508 may find skills (stored in the local repository 240)relevant to additional tasks by using ontology, a search engine, orother well known schemes of finding items in a set.

In one embodiment, the number of available workers based on skills orrequirements (e.g., location and timeliness). The work management server160 may offer sliders in job creation forms so that the job owner cansimply move the sliders until a sufficiently large pool of potentiallyavailable workers is generated.

In one embodiment, tasks issued from the matching engine 1512 are storedin the local repository 240 as a set of issued tasks. The completedtasks may be reviewed to detect any discrepancies or problems in theissued tasks. The detected discrepancies or problems may be used nexttime tasks are generated to avoid the same discrepancies or problems.

FIG. 15B is a flowchart illustrating the process of creating jobs ortasks using a template, according to one embodiment. The work managementserver 160 receives 1526 parameters (e.g., the identity of the jobowner) for initiating job or task creation. All or part of theparameters may be retrieved or updated from the local repository 240into the relevant data structures. A job template is received, orgenerated, or extracted 1530. The job owner then modifies 1534 the jobtemplate considering, among other things, available skills stored indata repository 1303. Additional items such as scheduling, time of day,or time required to complete the job or task may be modified by usingscheduling data stored in the local repository 240 or by calculatingfrom available data. Geography data, job experience, skills and otherjob considerations for the tasks may also be modified.

The work management server 160 then asks the job owner if this task is amultiplicative job. Multiplicative tasks are of two kinds: (i)repetitive tasks that occur at a certain frequency (e.g., checking abathroom for cleanliness at a fast food restaurant on a daily, hourly orweekly basis) and (ii) parallel tasks where multiple people are assignedthe same task and can be performed in parallel (e.g., 100 peopleassigned to the task of reviewing a movie). The repetitive tasktypically can be performed by the same person, and in some cases, evendesirable for consistency. In contrast, parallel tasks cannot beperformed by the same person. In some cases, a task may be bothrepetitive and parallel (e.g., a task to be performed by 100 people oncewithin a week or by fewer people twice within a week). If it isdetermined 1538 that the task is not multiplicative, the processterminates. If it is determined 1538 that the task is multiplicative,the required number of tasks is scheduled 1542 and then the processends.

Risk Management

FIG. 16A is a diagram illustrating the components for assessing risksassociated with the completion of a job or task, according to oneembodiment. A risk assessment engine 292 receives multiple data setsincluding, among others, job completion data associated with job owner1620, job completion data associated with workers 1622, and currentworkload of workers 1624 to generate risk data 1630 indicating the levelof risk associated with the completion of the job. The job completiondata may include the ratio of successfully completed previous jobs ortasks against the total number of previous jobs or tasks. The risk data1630 may be used to set insurance premium for purchasing an insurancepolicy that covers losses due to unsuccessful or incomplete terminationof the job.

The unsuccessful completion of the task may be attributable to jobowners or workers. For example, job owners may not give sufficient dataor clear instructions, and thus, none (or a very low percentage) oftheir workers complete the tasks. The risk assessment engine 292 mayanalyze data associated with job owners, normalize the values, andcompare the values with those of peer job owners. Similarly, a workermay have problems finishing work or finishing on time across multiplejob owners or only when doing jobs for a certain job owner. Therefore, adetailed data set is maintained to determine what is causing theincompletion of the tasks.

In one embodiment, the risk assessment engine 292 may also considerother factors such as past payment history of job owners, reports ofdisputes or other legal actions, reputation data, and track record oftimely completed job or tasks to calculate a risk associated with a job.Such data may be analyzed using methods well known to insuranceunderwriters.

In one embodiment, additional information such as whether a person hasbeen involved, independently or as part of group, in disputes, fraudallegation, or other types of work-related adversarial or criminal legalactions may be considered in computing the risk data 1630. The risk data1630 is stored in the local repository 240 as a separate data entry orbe incorporated into the risk profile of workers. The risk data 1630 maybe used, for example, to compute the premium of the insurance policy.

FIG. 16B is a flowchart illustrating the process of assessing risksassociated with a job or task and issuing an insurance policy to a jobowner, according to one embodiment. First, the worker(s) eligible forthe tasks are identified 1640 by the risk assessment engine 292. Therisk assessment engine 292 receives 1642 job owner completion data 1620from, for example, the data repository 240. The risk assessment engine292 also receives 1644 worker job completion data 1622 from, forexample, the data repository 240. The risk assessment engine 292 alsoreceives 1648 the worker's schedule and the current workload of theworker. The workload of the worker indicates whether the worker has anunusually high volume of work for his profile, and hence, has greaterodds of failing the task on time.

Additional information may also be received 1650 at the risk assessmentengine 292. The additional information may include, among others, (i)data from social networking websites, (ii) entity data whether otherworkers closely associated with the worker or entities of which theworker is a member currently has heavy workload, and (iii) the scheduleof the entities of which the worker is a member. The weight of variousfactors may be determined by statistical analysis.

Based on the received data, a risk profile associated with a worker or aset of workers are calculated 1652. The risk profile and workerssuitable for minimizing the risk is presented 1654 to the job owner.Insurance premiums for covering losses due to various scenarios (e.g.,partial completion, incompletion, and late completion) is calculated1658. It is then determine 1660 if the job owner selects to purchase anyinsurance policy. If the job owner declines to purchase an insurancepolicy, the process terminates. If the job owner decides to purchase aninsurance policy, the process proceeds to receive 1662 payment for theinsurance policy from the job owner. The insurance policy is then issued1664 to the job owner. Then the process terminates.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 issues an insurancepolicy that covers counter-party risk. The counter-party risk indicatesthe risk associated with a third party's inability to pay for thecompleted job or refusal to pay for the completed job. An insurancepolicy associated with compensate of the workers may also be provided.

Monitoring and Management of Job

FIG. 17A is a flowchart illustrating the process of monitoring andmanaging tasks by a job owner, according to one embodiment. The tasksmay be monitored to allow a job owner to detect any issues that mayarise with respect to completion of the job. First, the work managementserver 160 receives 1710 results of the task from a worker. In oneembodiment, the worker opens a task submission screen on the userterminal 130 or 140, and provides inputs associated with the results ofthe task.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 offers the worker withthe option of submitting the results of the task as provisional resultsfor review by the job owner. In other cases, instead of submitting theprovisional review, the results may be submitted in phases. If it isdetermined 1712 that the provisional review is requested, the receivedresults are classified 1714 as preliminary results. The receipt of thepreliminary results are then notified 1716 to the job owner.

The job owner reviews the preliminary results and provides the jobowner's review of the preliminary results. In one embodiment, the reviewof the preliminary results is parceled out as a separate task to anotherworker. The work management system 160 receives 1718 the review, andnotifies 1720 the worker of the job owner's review. After appropriateactions (if needed), the worker then uploads or submits the updated workor report on the status or findings to the work management server 160.The uploaded or submitted results are received 1722 at the workmanagement server 160 and submitted 1724 as final results to the jobowner.

In one embodiment, after receiving 1722 the updated results, the processmay return to classifying 1714 the results as preliminary results andrepeat the process until the results is approved.

In one embodiment, tasks are marked as complete or provisionallycomplete. Workers are then given an opportunity to submit tasks andreceive feedback before the tasks are closed for reintegration into ajob. In this way, workers may determine if enough time was spent on atask to provide good results while minimizing the risk of negativelyaffecting the job overall and their reputation by receiving interimfeedback.

FIG. 17B is a user interface 1730 displayed for setting an approvalprocess associated with submitting the result of a task and setting theredundancy of tasks, according to one embodiment. The user interface1730 has an area 1732 that allows the job owner to set the criteria forcompletion of the task (e.g., approval). The user interface 1730 alsoallows the user to set redundancy in the task by setting the percentagethat the tasks should be repeated by other workers.

FIG. 17C is a user interface 1740 displayed for setting up a process tomonitor the progress of a job or task, according to one embodiment. Theuser interface 1740 may be presented after the job owner selects therequirements of approval in the user interface 1730 of FIG. 17B. The jobowner may set who should review the results of the task using the userinterface 1740. In one embodiment, the redundancy of tasks may beadjusted according to the progress of tasks to ensure the job iscompleted in time.

FIG. 17D is a user interface 1750 displayed for allowing a job owner toconfirm the status of tasks, according to one embodiment. Under the name1754 of the job owner, a text box 1752 is displayed listing the names ofactive jobs, the description of active jobs and the date jobs wereactivated. Tasks for each job are also listed in the text box 1752. Inan area 1756 below the text box 1752, the following information isprovided: (i) number of jobs completed, (ii) number of jobs outstanding(to be completed), (iii) total compensation per job, (iv) percentage ofjobs completed, and (v) job expiration dates. A detailed report on eachjob results may be obtained by clicking a hyperlink 1758. Active jobsmay be deactivated or deactivated jobs may be activated by clocking atoggle button 1760. For each task in the text box 1752, whether the taskis dependent on other tasks is indicated. Further, for each task, thefollowing information is displayed in the text box 1752: (i) the numberof tasks completed, (ii) the number of tasks outstanding, (iii) thenumber of tasks completed, and (iv) specified compensation per task.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 monitors the progressof tasks to determine the likelihood of completion of the tasks. Thelikelihood of completion may be assessed as decreasing as the time forcompletion approaches. As a job or a task is assessed as being unlikelyto be successful, the efforts to evaluate the quality of the job or taskmay be increased or redundancy of the task may be increased (e.g., moreworkers assigned to the same task). Alternatively, the job or task maybe abandoned if the successful completion of the job or task isunlikely.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 automatically addsreviewers when it is determined that the projected quality of the workis below a threshold (e.g., certain fields of results are incomplete orpartially filled in). The additional reviewers ensure that high qualityresults are delivered to the job owner in a timely manner.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 predicts thetimeliness of the response as the job or task is being performed forcertain jobs, especially jobs with sequential or mutually exclusivetasks. The prediction may be based on prior results for the task and theworker. This approach could help prepare other workers ready for thenext step to minimize the time needed to accomplish the job.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 recursively determinesthe estimated time for the completion of a job based on a jobdescription and past performance data for similar tasks, data of workersassigned the tasks, and past history of jobs from the same job owner.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 distributes the tasksbidirectionally through a hub and spoke approach for places with limitedinfrastructure. Jobs may be delivered by agents who collect work and becompensated for the workers that the agents recruit.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 provides in-progressfeedback for work performance so that workers may find out in real-timeif they are starting to make obvious mistakes and be warned orencouraged to improve the quality. If false data is used as a check, andthat data trips Quality Of Service (QOS) detectors, then correctiveadvice can also be given. The work management server may also promotequality improvements through additional review or work, offering twooptions for additional work to ensure quality—expert review orredundancy addition.

In one embodiment, the likelihood of accomplishing a task is enhancedwhile reducing the cost of accomplishing the task by updating ormodifying the task descriptions or subtask descriptions based on certainevents (e.g., passing of time). For example, as the deadline for the jobapproaches, the payment associated with the tasks descriptions may begradually increased by the workflow engine 258 so that more applicantworkers are attracted to the tasks. As the number of applicant workersincrease, the likely of completing the task also increases.

Concealing User Identity

Some job owners and workers may want to maintain their identityanonymous when using the work management server 160. The job owners maywant to keep their identity anonymous, for example, to maintain securityor to access a larger pool of workers outside their organizations orenterprises without revealing that the jobs or tasks are being offeredoutside the companies or enterprise. The workers may also want tomaintain their identity hidden because, for example, the workers are“moonlighting” and do not want to be known that the workers are takingother jobs outside their primary work. The identity of workers or jobowners, however, must be capable of being tracked so that the workers orthe job owners can be held accountable for obligations owed to otherparties using the work management server 160.

FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating the operation of an anonymizer module1804 in the work management system 110, according to one embodiment. Aworker 1820 is shown on the right side of FIG. 18A, and a job owner 1802is shown on the left side of FIG. 18A. The worker 1820 and the job owner1802 may reveal their identity to each other (“John Smith” or “XYZCorp”). In addition to or as a substitute to the real identity (XYZCorp, John Smith), the worker 1820 and/or the job owner 1802 maygenerate aliases (Alias 1, Alias 2, JDC 1, JDC 2) via an anonymizermodule 1804. When interacting through the aliases, the true identity ofa party is not revealed to the other party. The security level of thejob owner is transferred to all identities (real and alias) so that itmay be difficult for the job owner to infer the identity of the jobowner from the security level of an alias.

The alias is traceable by the worker management server 160 when needed.In this way, the true identity of the worker or the job owner may betraced to hold the worker or job owner accountable for fails to pay orfailure to deliver the tasks. In one embodiment, a worker or job owneris allowed to register only a single real entity for all transactionsthrough the work management server 160 but allowed to generate multiplealiases for different times or tasks.

FIG. 18B is a diagram illustrating the relationships between a userstable 1832 and related data structures, according to one embodiment. Theusers table 1832 includes information about the users of the workmanagement system 110. The users includes, among others, job owners,workers, and intermediators. The user table 1832 may include, amongother fields, Nick Name (indicating nick name or identity used in thework management system 110), Type of user (e.g., job owner, worker orintermediator), contact information of the user (includes a pointer to acontacts table 1840 in FIG. 18c ), entity information including apointer to an entity table 1850 associated with the user, Doing BusinessAs (DBA) field (includes a pointer to a DBA table 1852 storinginformation about an aliases of the user), projects (jobs or tasksassociated with the user), a unique ID of the user, comments about theuser, security clearance field (security clearance level of the user),and geography field (indicating which field the user is associatedwith). The user table 182 is associated with at least one entry in thecontacts list PID (Personal ID) table 1834 that provides a uniqueindexing key for each users table.

FIG. 18C is a diagram illustrating the relationships between thecontacts table 1840 and related data structures, according to oneembodiment. The contacts table 1840 includes various fields associatedwith the contact information of the user. The contact table 1840 isassociated with a list 1844 of users, a list 1836 of jobs, the contactslist PID 1834, and the entity table 1850 via an entity list PID 1842.The entity list PID 1842 list a unique indexing key for each entitytable 1850.

FIG. 18D is a diagram illustrating the relationships between the entitytable 1850, a DBA table 1852 and related data structures, according toone embodiment. An entity includes one or more individual as members, asdescribed above. The entity table 1850 includes information associatedwith entities. The entity table 1850 is associated with a DBA list PID1854 pointing to the DBA table 1852 associated with the entity. The DBAList PID 1854 includes unique indexing keys for the DBA table 1852. TheDBA table 1852 is associated with an alias of a user or an entity, andincludes fields to indicate the information about the alias.

FIG. 18E is a diagram illustrating the operation of security settings ina work management system, according to one embodiment. In the embodimentof FIG. 18E, job owners are assigned one of four security level ratings:level 1 (lowest level) through level 4 (highest level). Tasks from thejob owners are also assigned one of four security level ratings: level 1(lowest level) through level 4 (highest level). Similarly, workers areassigned one of four security level ratings. The security setting isdescribed, for example, in Security Clearance fields in the users table1832, the contacts table 1840, the entity table 1850 and the DBA table1852.

Assuming that a job owner 1872 has a level 4 rating but has listed a job1876 with security level 2, as indicated by an arrow 1874. A worker 1880looking at the job listing, may not see that the job owner has securitylevel 4; rather, the worker 1880 sees only that the listed task has asecurity level 2. The job owner's security level may be visible orinvisible to the worker. The worker 1880 is allowed to take on taskshaving security level the same as or lower than the worker's securitylevel. If the worker 1880 has any one of security levels 2 through 4,the worker 1880 may take the task 1876 (indicated by arrows 1882 and1884). However, if the worker 1880 has security level 1, the worker 1880may not take the task (indicated by arrow 1886).

The anonymizer module 1804 in conjunction with the task group manager1402 may assist an organization or enterprise with multiple entities toassign works to other internal entities or outside entities. Theentities in the organization or enterprise may be loosely associated tooperate under a free market system. That is, entities in the sameorganization or enterprise may compete for similar or same tasks. Theanonymizer module 1804 hides the identity of the entities from other jobowners or the workers using the work management system 110 so that theentities in the same organization or enterprise may compete withoutknowing that the competing entities belong to the same organization orenterprise. In one embodiment, a task is made available only to otherentities in the same organization or enterprise without revealing theentity posting the task. Alternatively, a task may be made available toother entities in the same organization or enterprise for a certainperiod of time. If no entity in the same organization or enterpriseapplies for the task within the set time, the task is then madeavailable to entities or workers outside the organization or enterprise.

Security Enhancements

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating the process of detecting collusionin the work management system 160, according to one embodiment.Specifically, the work management system 160 identifies collusions in aworker copying results of tasks from another worker. The work managementsystem 160 first retrieves 1902 data for related jobs. The dataretrieved includes results such as movie reviews from the local datarepository 240. The work management system 160 then applies 1904 filtersto identify clusters of correlations in the data. A collusion scorebased on the clusters of correlations are generated 1906. The collusionscore may be based on various factors including whether workers oftenwork together, whether the workers report the same results, and submitthe reports at approximately the same time. If it is determined 1908that the collusion score exceeds a threshold, an administrator or aninvestigator is alerted 1910 of possible collusion. If the collusionscore does not exceed the threshold, the process ends. The administratoror investigator may be trusted workers hired using the work managementsystem 110.

In one embodiment, collusion among workers may be detected by acorrelation search for results, based on sign-up proximity, geography ortime. If results for tasks are oddly similar, and the workers providingthose results signed up very close to each other in space or in time,then the results are flagged for evaluation for possible collusion.

When entities (or teams) are being created with workers of differentskill sets, there is a risk of collusion workers are allowed to form theentities (or teams) instead of generating the entities (or teams) by thework management system 160). To avoid collusion, entities (or teams) mayonly be created anonymously by the work management server 160.

Alternatively, the work management server 160 may offer multiple IDs(identities) for job completion. Multiple IDs are used to provideanonymity for workers, job owners, and information about a job, to avoidcollusion. IDs are never re-used, and are changed as frequently as ispracticable—such as per session. There can be different IDs for eachentity, such as each job having a different ID for each person who viewsit. This prevents individuals from viewing a job at the same time tosign up with the intent of collusion.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the process of performing a securitysensitive task using a work management system, according to oneembodiment. First, a worker sends 2002 log-in information to the workmanagement server 160 to access available tasks. The work managementserver 160 receives 2006 the log-in information in accordance with anysecurity procedures that are required for the worker's security level(e.g., a password, a thumbprint or retinal scan). The work managementserver 160 then sends 2010 a secure application to the worker'sterminal. The worker's terminal receives and deploys 2014 the secureapplication.

The work management server 160 then sends 2018 the task data to theworker terminal. The task data is accessible only through the deployedsecure application. Known techniques may be used to secure the task datafrom being copied (for example, through encryption of task data). Theworker then performs the task using the secure application and the taskdata. The worker terminal may process 2022 any data associated with theresults of the task during this process. The results of the task arethen sent 2026 to the work management server 160, and the worker'sterminal is cleaned up to remove 2034 any residual data (e.g., secureapplication, task data and results data) associated with the task.

There is always a risk that someone may use a camera to photograph datadisplayed on the screen. In one embodiment, such risk is minimized bylimiting the screen size and the image quality.

In one embodiment, information in the form or tables or table-likeformats (e.g., spreadsheets or databases) may be made anonymous bymasking the headers of the table entries, allowing data checks to beperformed on data alone without the headers (e.g., confirming the sumsof a column in a table without revealing what the numbers represent).

In one embodiment, text documents are processed to alter the text.First, a search algorithm is used to identify occurrences of a word orterm in the text. Then the words or terms in the text are replaced byanother word or term. The worker performs task using the altered text,and returns the altered task back to the original status after the taskis completed. The portions of texts to be modified may include at leastone capitalized letter as indicator of a flagged work. In other cases,for example, black lists may be submitted along, of words or otherspecific information to be rendered unrecognizable. In yet other cases,for example, such information may be underlined or otherwisehighlighted, and then replaced before sending out the modified text. Forexample, any occurrence of a word “Iraq” may be replaced with“Funland4335” for translation, then after translation, changed back to“Iraq.”

In one embodiment, processed data can be made anonymous and re-used tocheck future tasks with a new value—known good input and output from atask. For example, if a skilled worker replaces a word with another wordin a translation task, then the translation quality of other workers maybe assessed by checking wither similar changes were made by the otherworkers.

For security sensitive task data, the communication may be sent over asecure channel instead of a web-based network. Also, links in a templateto outside websites may be allowed only in certain circumstances, toavoid spam, phishing and other security risks. Only certain fields couldbe linked to ad hoc content, such as movies. In other cases, onlycertain types of content would be allowed for linking.

Automatic Survey Generation

Users of the work management system 110 may need to prepare surveys topose questions to other users of the work for various reasons. Forexample, a job owner may want to ask questions to workers beforeassigning tasks to the workers or ask questions that need to be answeredas part of the task assigned. The survey generator 288 of the workmanagement server 160 facilitates the process of generating the surveyand collecting answers to the survey.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the process of automaticallygenerating a survey on a work management system, according to oneembodiment. First, a request to generate a survey is receive 2102. Thework management server 160 retrieves 2104 information required forgenerating the survey from the user. The survey generator 288 may, forexample, present questions in Appendix to receive information from asurvey requestor to generate a survey.

The survey generator 288 generates 2106 questions based on the requestand retrieved information. The generated questions are then presented2108 to the person requesting the survey for editing. The resultingsurvey, including any response templates generated by the surveygenerator 288 as part of the survey is encapsulated 2110 in a codemodule (e.g., in a script). The survey is then deployed 2112 in the workmanagement server 160 for presentation to users or stored in the localrepository 240. In one embodiment, the computer language (e.g., script)is protected by a password or other security features according topreferences set by the survey requestor. Then the process ends.

In one embodiment, a system to evaluate a survey form may be employed todetermine rating completeness. The completeness of the rating may bedetermined, for example, by evaluating the number of checkboxes markedon a survey form. Weights may be added and expanded to other“completion” ratios.

Reviewing User Evaluation

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the process of evaluating andcontesting the result of a task, according to one embodiment. Theevaluation associated with tasks, classes or other qualification effortsthe user made is presented 2202 to the user. The user's response to theevaluation is then stored 2204 in the local repository 240. The workmanagement server 160 reviews current information about the user'sclassification and receives 2206 the user's classifications for review.In one embodiment, the classifications are organized into fourcharacteristics: skill, security, experience and specialization.

The work management server 160 then loads 2210 the user's achievementsand comments into the selected classification. The user is presented2212 with information such as earned badges (for past work) orcertifications (for past training). The user can also review how theuser's ranking in these areas can be increased. A system ofcertifications may be used to measure fitness of a worker for a giventask or category of tasks (e.g., language or speed requirements).

It is then determined 2214 whether the user wants to contest the contentof the classifications (for example, a badge or review about the userfrom other users). If the user decides to contest, the user'scomments/complaints are added 2216 as a complaint item. The complaintitem is then sent 2218 to an investigator to verify the user'sallegations. The complaint item may be sent to an arbitrator for review.The process then terminates. If the user deems the selectedclassifications acceptable and does not wish to contest, the procedureterminates without adding 2216 or sending 2218 the complaint item to theinvestigator.

In one embodiment, a reviewing user may be evaluative based on thequality of his reviews to promote providing of fair, accurate, anduseful reputation information. Also, additional approaches may beemployed to create a single reputation score that is comparable evenwhen different methods are used to create the score. For example, usersmay be asked to compare and rate their satisfaction with differentrating systems, etc. Information between parties on either side of areputation evaluation may be shared without compromising integrity oranonymity.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 employs any one ofseveral methods to automatically evaluate the quality of a completedtask. For example, the percentage of blank fields filled in, the speedof execution or insertion of data with known accurate results may beanalyzed for the quality of the completed tasks. When appropriate, thework management server 160 categorizes jobs based on how well the jobscan be evaluated. Jobs that can be rated precisely by an automatedalgorithm are categorized into one group and jobs that cannot be ratedprecisely measured re categorized into another category. Depending onthe group that the task falls under, the reputation of the taskperformer after performance of the task may be adjusted accordingly.That is, the tasks that could be rated precisely are given more weightin updating the reputation of the task performer.

In one embodiment, the results of a task produced by a worker may bereviewed by another worker or an administrator of the work assignmentsystem 110 instead of the job owner.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 determines if a workerwas fairly rated after evaluation. The work management server 160detects that quality ratings from the job owner are out of line withautomated quantitative measurement. For example, a job owner might say ajob was done terribly, but accuracy and built-in data checks show thatthe results were fully compliant, this would flag the job owner's ratingas “unfair.”

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 includes a method ofmixing quality standard evaluations from external and internal sourcesthat uses different quality evaluation measurements to obtain a holisticview of the actual quality of the finished work. The work managementserver may also include a method of normalizing ratings based on therated item, with normalization of ratings for multiple individualsproviding a rating that can be normalized based on the total set ofindividuals who have rated that item in the past. Thus, for example, ifworker A rates 5 out of a possible 10 in system X and 7 out of apossible 10 in system Y, and worker B rates 4 out of a possible 10 insystem X and 5.5 out of a possible 10 in system Y, there would be aconsistent conversion factor or rate of about 1.4 from system X tosystem Y. Additionally, the system could include a method of normalizingrating work. Ratings for different workers may be normalized based ontrack records. Rather than using a numeric conversion, the ranking of aperson or item may be used to evaluate the worker. If worker A was5^(th) percentile in an external system, presumably he should be in asimilar percentile in the internal system. Accordingly, for comparablesystems, the ranking should be comparable and can be used by itself oras a modulator in a numerical conversion, allowing for a relative ratingto a worker's peers.

In one embodiment, the work management server 160 determines why certainwork outputs are consistently rejected by job owners. By understandingwhy certain outputs are rejected, jobs likely to be rejected may bemodified or improved to be more acceptable to the job owners. Forexample, for a task that requires production of a document, the documentcan be reviewed or scanned for readability, length or othercharacteristics that leads to the rejection. The work management server160 may also provide a method of predicting the evaluation that theworker is likely to receive.

In one embodiment, if a task was completed within required descriptions,a limited range of evaluation scores are accepted. The range may becomputed appropriately and uniquely for each combination of job, task,evaluator and worker. Whether the completed tasks satisfy thedescription may be evaluated by other workers or experts.

Example User Interfaces

FIG. 23A is a user interface 2300 displayed for training a worker orperforming a task, according to one embodiment. The user interface 2300includes a video displayed in a window 2302. Controls 2322 and aprogress bar 2308 showing current position are provided as standardfeatures in the video player application shown in the user interface2300. The user interface 2300 also includes a window 2312, whichcontains one or several instructions 2314 a-n. The instructions may bepictures (graphical images) or even mini-videos (animated or movingimages). When a selected scene appears in the window 2302, the videostream may be paused and an instructional video may be displayed in thewindow 2312 to explain the response or action expected from the viewer.In a window 2320, the worker may enter his results, comments, reactions,reports, or other information according to the instructions.

FIG. 23B is a user interface 2330 displayed for indicating major scenechanges, according to one embodiment. A window 2330 displays a video. Awindow 2332 may display instructions and/or responses to theinstructions (e.g., the contents of windows 2312 and 2320, as describedabove with reference to FIG. 23A). Also shown is a window 2340containing a graph 2342. In this example, the graph 2342 represents apotentiometer of quality ratings, similar to what is done when moviestudios conduct reviews of their films prior to release. Also shown is aprogress bar 2338 with a position indicator 2334 of a current position.Storyboards 2336 a-n indicating the transition to each new major sceneis provided on the user interface 2330. The position of the positionindicator 2334 in relation to the scenes in storyboards 2336 a-n allowsthe user to understand the location of the scene in a video displayed inthe window 2330 and compare the various scenes in the video to thecorresponding state in graph 2342. The user interface 2330 may be usedfor the evaluation of results or for enhancing the actual reviewprocess. Portions of the user interface 2330 may be blanked out orhidden from the user at times to ensure that the users provideindependently formed opinions.

FIG. 23C is a user interface 2370 displaying badges of accomplishmentsawarded to a worker, according to one embodiment. The user's data isshown in a window 2372. Available jobs or tasks are displayed in awindow 2376, with each job 2378 a-n listed separately. Additionally, thelist of jobs 2378 a-n is accompanied by indicators 2380 a-n indicatingcapabilities (“badges”) required for taking the job. Window 2374 is aspace (need not be a separate window) where indicia of the user's badgesare displayed when appropriate. The badges may be awarded to workers asindications of qualifications, endorsements, certifications, and otherdesignations of accomplishments. Indicia of required badges 2380 a-n maybe highlighted if the user already has them, and may be grayed out orblinking if the user does not have them. Ways of earning additionalbadges may be displayed, for example, as a yellow exclamation mark orsome other indicator. These indicators may be used to draw attention aswell as to open additional windows, pop-ups or mouse-overs, etc., givingthe user hints or links about how to earn these badges.

Alternative Embodiments

In one embodiment, an optimal team of workers may be recommended by thework management server 160. These teams could be suggested to job ownersor workers who wish to assemble a team, and could be suggested in detailor in general terms. Multiple sets of expertise may be needed to best docertain kinds of work such as solving a puzzle or multiple languageskills for certain kinds of translation. These teams could be assembledoptimized to given factors (such as length, time, etc.) based onrecommendations from the work management server.

In one embodiment, a job may be analyzed to improve the performance oftasks or subtasks based on desired parameters (e.g., fasteraccomplishment of work, and increased accuracy). The work managementsystem may request a media file with higher audio resolution to increasethe accuracy of transcription.

In one embodiment, the work management server also simultaneouslyintegrates work and worker requirements by creating dynamic jobdescriptions that adjust the requirements (e.g., training andexperience) for workers according to the job output to modify pre-worktraining, the task to be performed or payment dynamically.

In one embodiment, the work management server determines whether aworker has indeed performed a similar task in the past by receiving andverifying evidence associated with the past task. Compensationassociated with the task may be differentiated based on whether suchevidence was provided by the worker.

In one embodiment, the work management server assigns two or more tasksas a group to the same worker. Tasks such as answering to surveyquestions may be packaged with other time-consuming or highlysought-after work. In this way, unattractive tasks may be also beassigned.

In one embodiment, the work management server receives job templates notonly from job owners but also from workers and job owners. The jobtemplates submitted by the workers defines narrow variations of workthat the workers are willing to provide at a given cost and time (e.g.,creation of a will at a given price only if the preferred template isused).

In one embodiment, instead of offering a fixed price for a job completedby satisfying a single set of criteria, a range of prices may be offereddepending on several factors. These factors may include, among others,the speed of completion and the level of completion. Under such ascheme, a worker may choose to produce a result up to a level that theworker prefers. The job owners may also optimize the tasks based onworker's preferences.

In one embodiment, non-monetary compensation may be provided in returnfor performing a task. The non-monetary compensation includes, amongothers, currency for use in an online environment (e.g., massivelymultiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG)), special items or tokensor exchanging virtual and actual value.

In one embodiment, the work management server evaluates worker'straining and productivity, calculates a total systemic profile of aworker's cost (including training, job matching) and outputs (work)instead of evaluating workers based solely on the output of workers. Inthis way, the “internal” value of a worker may be captured to determineif the workers should be laid off or be retained.

In one embodiment, a system of evaluations with staged revelation may beoffered where ratings can be made private during periods of negotiation.For example, as a worker and a job owner are negotiating on a bulk workprovision, the evaluation history of a party may be selectively keptconfidential to the counterparty.

In one embodiment, the work management server also uses a method ofauto-regression to judge training and reputation, determining the bestvariables to use to predict training effectiveness and reputationaccuracy. Any variable with meaningful predictive strength may be usedin the computation (regression).

In one embodiment, the worker is required to provide evidence that thetask was performed to the work management server. The items andinformation submitted as evidence may be verified automatically.

In one embodiment, control data may be sent to workers for variousreasons. The control data may be used, for example, to test worker'salertness, aid anonymity, improve the quality of task completion,develop worker reputations, and avoid potential worker collusion.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the present inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention tothe precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations arepossible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scopeof the present invention be limited not by this detailed description,but rather by the claims of this application. As will be understood bythose familiar with the art, the present invention may be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. Likewise, the particular naming and division ofthe modules, routines, features, attributes, methodologies and otheraspects are not mandatory or significant, and the mechanisms thatimplement the present invention or its features may have differentnames, divisions and/or formats. Furthermore, as will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the relevant art, the modules, routines, features,attributes, methodologies and other aspects of the present invention canbe implemented as software, hardware, firmware or any combination of thethree. Also, wherever a component, an example of which is a module, ofthe present invention is implemented as software, the component can beimplemented as a standalone program, as part of a larger program, as aplurality of separate programs, as a statically or dynamically linkedlibrary, as a kernel loadable module, as a device driver, and/or inevery and any other way known now or in the future to those of ordinaryskill in the art of computer programming. Additionally, the presentinvention is in no way limited to implementation in any specificprogramming language, or for any specific operating system orenvironment. Accordingly, the disclosure of the present invention isintended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of thepresent invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

APPENDIX “Please choose the type of question you would like to ask:” [DROP DOWN SELECT: Choice - One Answer (Radio Buttons),  Choice-OneAnswer (Drop Down), Choice - Multiple Answers  (Check Boxes), Heading,Image, Name and Address  (General), Date and Time, Open  Ended - OneLine, Open Ended - Comments Box, Rating Scale - One  Answer(Horizontal), Rating Scale - Matrix, Ranking Question,  Yes or No,Upload a File]  [IF “Choice - One Answer (Radio Buttons)”, THEN]   [“Question?”      [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter herquestion  /direction]    “Answer Choices?”      [Multi-line Text Box inwhich survey creator can type      answer choices. When displayed to thesurvey respondent,      each choice is accompanied by a Radio Button.     [Checkbox] “If you click the box, the final answer will be     “Other” with its own text field to allow a survey respondent     to enter a different answer.]    Randomize order of answers?[Checkbox]      Mandatory to answer this question? [Checkbox]  [IF“Choice - One Answer (Drop Down)”, THEN]    [“Question?”     [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter her question /direction]    “Answer Choices?”    [Multi-line Text Box in whichsurvey creator can type answer    choices. When displayed to the surveyrespondent, each choice is    presented in a DROP-DOWN box.   [Checkbox] “If you click the box, the final answer will be “Other”   with its own text field to allow a survey respondent to enter a   different answer.]    Randomize order of answers? [Checkbox]  [IF“Choice - Multiple Answers (Check Box)”, THEN]    [“Question?”     [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter her question /direction]    “Answer Choices?      [Multi-line Text Box in whichsurvey creator can type      answer choices. When displayed to thesurvey respondent,      each choice is accompanied by a check box sothat more      than one selection can be made.      [Checkbox] “If youclick the box, the final answer will be      “Other” with its own textfield to allow a survey respondent      to enter a different answer.]   Randomize order of answers? [Checkbox]      Mandatory to answer thisquestion? [Checkbox]  [IF “Heading”, THEN]    [Multi-line Text Box inwhich the survey creator can type    directions or other text that willbe displayed to the survey    respondent.]  [IF “Image”, THEN]    [[TextBox][Browse...][Upload] functions allow image file to be    uploaded toClearShift. The image will be displayed to the survey    respondent whencompleting the survey. The survey creator can    “Add a caption.” [TextBox] which will be displayed next to the    image when the survey isdelivered.]  [IF “Name and Address”, THEN]    [“Question?”     [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter her question     /direction wherein the answer must be an address. The      inputsprovided to the survey respondent when completing      the survey willbe the complete set of name and address      fields]      Mandatory toanswer this question? [Checkbox]  [IF “Date and Time”, THEN]   [“Question?”      [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter herquestion      /direction wherein the answer must be a date and time. The     inputs provided to the survey respondent when completing      thesurvey will be the MM/DD/YY fields.]      Mandatory to answer thisquestion? [Checkbox]  [IF “Open Ended - One Line”, THEN]    [“Question?”     [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter her question     /direction wherein the answer will be open-ended and      enteredvia a one-line text box. The Survey Respondent      will input heranswer to a one-line text box.]      Mandatory to answer this question?[Checkbox]  [IF “Open Ended - Comment Box”, THEN]    [“Question?”     [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter her question     /direction wherein the answer will be open-ended and      enteredvia a multi-line text box.]      Mandatory to answer this question?[Checkbox]  [IF “Ratings Scale” - One Answer (Horizontal), THEN]   [“Question?”      [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter herquestion      /direction.]    “Answer Options:”      “Select the numberof options (answers) and then type in an      option to correspond toeach number.”        [DROP DOWN Select 2 - 10]          [FUNCTION:Selecting the number in the          drop down box reloads the page and         designates the number of textboxes that          immediatelyfollow.]        1. [Text box][Default = “Excellent”]        2. [Textbox] [Default = “Good”]        3. [Text box] [Default = “Fair”]       4. [Text box] [Default = “Poor”]        5. ...Up to 10 Text boxeshere      [These boxes enable the survey creator to generate a variety     of responses that correspond to numerical values. This is      forgenerating multiple choice, Likert scale questions (ex.      “Rate myperformance on a scale of 1 to 4 where 1 =      Excellent and 4 =Poor”)].        Mandatory to answer this question? [Checkbox]  [IF“Ratings Scale” - Matrix), THEN]    [Note: This type of question enablesthe survey taker to select    ratings for several different aspects of aparticular question (e.g.,    overall performance, and then efficiency,timeliness, quality, etc).    The question and rating scale appears atthe top and then each    aspect of the question appears below. Whenfilling out the answer    options, the survey creator can select thenumber of options and    then type in an answer label to correspond witheach number.]    [“Question?”      [Multi-line Text Box to allow theuser to enter her question      /direction.]    “Answer Options:”     [Multi-line text box. Each line in the text box corresponds      toa specific aspect of the performance being rated in the      mainquestion specified immediately prior.      For example, the “Question”might be “How was our      performance?” and each line in the multi-linetext box      might be Cleanliness, Responsiveness, Efficiency, etc. The     survey respondent will respond to the same rating scale     defined below for each of these aspects of the main      question.]     “Select the number of options (answers) and then type in an     option to correspond to each number.”        [DROP DOWN Select 2 -10]          [FUNCTION: Selecting the number in the          drop downbox reloads the page and          designates the number of textboxesthat          immediately follow.]        6. [Text box][Default =“Excellent”]        7. [Text box] [Default = “Good”]        8. [Textbox] [Default = “Fair”]        9. [Text box] [Default = “Poor”]       10. ...Up to 10 Text boxes here      [These boxes enable thesurvey creator to generate a variety      of responses that correspondto numerical values. This is      for generating multiple choice, Likertscale questions (ex.      “Rate my performance”) The ratings choice canbe      presented as radio buttons].      Mandatory to answer thisquestion? [Checkbox]  [IF “Rankings)”, THEN]    [“Question?”     [Multi-line Text Box to allow the user to enter her question /direction]    “Answer Choices?”      [Multi-line Text Box in whichsurvey creator can type the      items that she wants the respondent torank. Each line in      the multi-line text box will become a new itemto be      ranked.]      [Checkbox] “If you click the box, the finalanswer will be      “Other” with its own text field to allow a surveyrespondent      to enter a different answer.]    Randomize order ofanswers? [Checkbox]      Mandatory to answer this question? [Checkbox] [IF “Yes or No”, THEN]    [“Question?”      [Multi-line Text Box toallow the user to enter her question  /direction]      [Checkbox] “Clickhere to add a text box to request      additional comment from thesurvey respondents.”]      Mandatory to answer this question? [Checkbox] [IF “Upload of File”, THEN]    [[Text Box][Browse...][Upload] functionsallow a file to be    uploaded and shared with the survey respondent atthe time of the    survey.    Mandatory to answer this question?[Checkbox]

The invention claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for creatinga customized task template in an online work-management system toaccommodate information from partner systems comprising: in a computingdevice including one or more data processors and memory storingexecutable code for at least one data processor to execute a pluralityof control and web-based interface actions for providing task templateswithin a web-based user interface and receiving input datarepresentative of modifications from a particular user into the tasktemplates to directly connect to a particular user avatar representativeof a user online persona for the particular user selected from a set ofclassified avatars used with partner systems hosting partner programs,including: providing a first task template from a plurality of differenttask templates, by said one or more data processors and said executablecode within the web-based user interface for display to said particularuser and receiving within a first region of the first task template, bysaid at least one or more data processors and said executable code, atleast one user input for said particular user to indicate informationassociated with the particular user avatar selected from the set ofclassified avatars, the information configured to generate a descriptiondefining at least one task; obtaining, by said at least one or more dataprocessors and said executable code, the information for accessibilityto the partner systems including a plurality of websites, including apassword and login operation provided through the web-based userinterface from the partner systems, and upon receiving a user login,creating a link between two avatars identified from the set ofclassified avatars; receiving within a second region of the first tasktemplate by said one or more data processors and said executable code,available options associated with the particular user avatar for saidparticular user, including 1) a selection of a leisure suit for a useravatar for certain recreation applications and 2) a business suit for auser avatar for business applications; storing information by said oneor more data processors and said executable code from within the firsttask template associated with the user avatars including user selectionsin a local repository and a database associated with the partner systemsto allow users to combine activities with the partner systems based onlinked avatars; generating within a third descriptive region of thefirst task template, by said at least one or more data processors andsaid executable code, a task description for the task based on the userinput and the description generated; assigning, by said at least one ormore data processors and said executable code, the task to a first userbased on the task description, wherein the first user assigns at leastpart of the task to a second user through the web-based user interface;sending for display, by said at least one or more data processors andsaid executable code, assignment information indicating the assignmentof the task to the first user and the assignment of part of the task tothe second user on at least one of user terminals used by the first andsecond users; receiving, by said at least one or more data processorsand said executable code, a first request to view a modified customizedtask template with one or more of the task, the part of the task, theassignment of the first user and the assignment of the second user,wherein one or more of the task, the part of the task, the first user,the second user and a task owner are assigned a linked avatar for bothsaid first user and said second user; responsive to receiving the firstrequest, by the one or more data processors and said executable code,sending a first set of one or more linked avatars for display;receiving, by at least one of the one or more data processors and saidexecutable code, a second request to view the modified customized tasktemplate with one or more of the task, the part of the task, theassignment of the first user and the assignment of the second user;sending, by at least one of the one or more data processors andexecutable code, a second set of one or more avatars for display, thesecond set of one or more avatars including at least one avatardifferent from that of the first set of one or more avatars for one ormore of a task, a part of the task, an assignment of the first user andan assignment of the second user common to both the first request andthe second request; receiving, by at least one of the one or more dataprocessors and executable code, a further modification to the customizedtask template including a task description from the first user definingthe task, the task including at least a first subtask; generating, by atleast one or more data processors and executable code, a subtaskdescription within the user interface, defining the first subtask basedon the task description; and assigning by the web-based user interfacethe first subtask to the second user based on the subtask description.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the task further includes a secondsubtask performed by the first user.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: displaying, by the one or more data processors and saidexecutable code, the subtask description responsive to assigning thetask to the first user; receiving, by at least one of the one or moredata processors and said executable code, applications from a group ofusers for the subtask responsive to showing the subtask description; andreceiving, by at least one of the one or more data processors and saidexecutable code, a selection of the second user from the group of usersresponsive to receiving the applications.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the first user is anonymized so that an identity of the firstuser is concealed from a task owner assigning the task to the firstuser.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving, by atleast one or more data processors and executable code, applications forthe task from a first set of users for a predetermined amount of time;and receiving, by the one or more data processors and executable code,applications for the task from a second set of users after thepredetermined amount of time passed.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: accessing, by at least the one or more data processors andexecutable code, an information source external to the onlinework-management system to search for users qualified for executing thesubtask; and selecting, by at least the one or more data processors andexecutable code, the second user from the users searched from theexternal information source.